In today’s tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a colorful composition by combining several brushes on top of the photo and applying different Blending modes. Layered PSD file included. Let’s get it started!

Final Image Preview

Create a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1920px by 1200px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill with #D3B2C3 color the new background layer.

Find a stock photo with a man represented on it, I used this photo from deviantart. I would like to thank the author of this photo:

Remove the background using your favorite tools like Pen Tool (P), Magic Wand Tool (W), Magnetic Lasso (L) or even a simple Filter>Extract and insert it on a new layer in our main document.

Next step we’ll download a set of brushes for in Adobe Photoshop, named: MVbrush0809, grunge_brushes_by_szuia, benblogged_grunge and spooky_splats.

Click on the man’s layer on the bottom part of the Layers panel on Add layer mask icon and choose the benblogged_gr_2 brush from benblogged_grunge set. Set the Foreground color to black.

We need to hide the bottom part of the man’s picture by painting in the mask, the same way demonstrated below:

On the next new layer we’ll apply the penciller brush from MVbrush0809 set. Foreground color is #EDDEE7.

This layer should be positioned under the layer with the man on it. Paint on the layer the same way demonstrated below:

Create a new layer and select for it the next brush from benblogged_grunge set, Foreground color is black.

The layer will be situated also lower than the man’s layer. Make some brushstroke with benblogged_gr_6 brush as shown:

On the next new layer we have to apply the next brush from MVbrush0809 set, Foreground color is white this time.

The layer needs to be placed lower than the man’s layer. Make some brushstroke with NS5B-29 brush as shown:

Create a new layer and choose the next brush from MVbrush0809 set. The brush’s color is #DA6874.

The layer will be situated under the layer with the man on it. Using Wet Brush 60 pixel 1 make some brushstroke as shown:

Next we’ll create one more new layer and choose the brush NS5B-29 from MVbrush0809 set, Foreground color is #E54C93. Make some brushstroke as shown. The layer needs to be placed lower than the man’s layer.

Create the next new layer and use the next brush from MVbrush0809 set. The brush’s color is # E54C93.

Add some brushstroke as shown and place the layer under the man’s layer.

Create a new layer again, use here the next brushes from MVbrush0809 set, Foreground color is #AA8F9D.

Place the layer also lower than the man’s layer and add some brushstroke as shown:

Set the Blending mode to Hard Light for this layer.

On the next new layer we’ll use the next brushes from MVbrush0809 set.

The brush’s color is #EB9653. The Sampled brush 411 has white color (Opacity 20%). Place the layer under the layer with the man on it and paint using these brushes as shown:

Set Blending mode to Linear Burn for this layer:

On the next new layer we’ll use the penciller brush from MVbrush0809 set. Paint with this brush using the next colors – #DED0E2, #С6175С, #D04252. The layer will be situated under the man’s layer.

On the next new layer we’ll apply the next brushes from the same set.

Paint with these brushes using the next colors – #D5596C, #574F55, #DC794A. Place this layer under the man’s layer.

Set the Blending mode to Color Dodge for this layer.

Now we have to create another layer and use the Sampled brush 2 10 from MVbrush0809 set.

Paint with this brush using the next colors – #F14985 (Opacity 20%), #CEC242, #F589A6 (Opacity 10%). Place the layer lower than the man’s layer.

Set the Blending mode to Hard Light for this layer.

Create the next new layer and choose the next brushes from last used set.