In this tutorial, I will show you the steps I took to create this nice abstract artwork via custom shapes and brushes in Photoshop CS5. Layered PSD file included. Let’s get started!

Final Image Preview

Start working by creating a new document (Ctrl+N) in Adobe Photoshop with the size 1280px by 1024px (RGB color mode) at a resolution of 72 pixels/inch. Use the Paint Bucket Tool (G) to fill with black color the new background layer.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Gradient Overlay.

Click in the color bar to open the Gradient Editor and set the color stops as shown. Click OK to close the Gradient Editor dialog box.

We’ve got the next result:

Find a stock photo with a model represented on it, I used this photo from deviantart. I would like to thank the author of this photo, or if you prefer, you can substitute similar image of your own.

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.

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush of black color.

Use this brush to make darker the girl’s contours the same way as on the picture below:

Hold down Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click between layers in the Layers panel to create a clipping mask.

We’ve got the next result:

Create one more new layer and select for it the Soft Round brush of black color (set Opacity to 10% in Options bar).

Use this brush to make darker the background on the girl’s right side. The layer should be situated under the girl’s layer:

Click Create new fill or adjustment layer from bottom part of the Layers panel and click to Hue/Saturation.

Drag the slider to the left to decrease the Saturation of the color range.

Next choose the Ellipse Tool (U) to draw a small ellipse of the color #FF2E2E.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Outer Glow.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Lighten.

Make a copy of the last made layer and select Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copy as on the next image, using also this color #03023B.

Click on Add a layer style icon from bottom part of the Layers panel and select Outer Glow.

Set the Blending mode for this layer to Lighten.

Make a copy of the layer containing the small circle and choose the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copy as on the next demonstrated picture. Set Fill to 52% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Lighten.

Make two more copies of the layer with the circle on it and select the Free Transform (Ctrl+T) command to place the copies as on the next picture, changing also the Fill, Blending mode and color:

Use again the earlier applied Ellipse Tool (U) to draw an ellipse of the color #DC0A53.

Set Fill to 52% for this layer and change the Blending mode to Lighten.

Create a new layer and select the Soft Round brush.

Use this brush to draw a spot of the color #C2501E.