MultiHub Forum

I've been trying to master digital painting techniques to create more atmospheric and textured fantasy landscapes, but I keep hitting a wall with my brushwork—everything ends up looking flat and synthetic. I use Photoshop with a basic round brush and smudge tool, but I see other artists achieving incredible depth with custom brushes that mimic traditional media. For digital painters who specialize in environments, what's your process for building up texture and mood from the initial block-in? How do you manage your brush libraries to avoid getting overwhelmed, and what specific techniques do you use for creating believable organic elements like foliage, rock surfaces, or distant atmospheric haze without getting lost in minute detail too early?