What's in this month...
Mastering sci-fi concepts: Derek Stenning talks about the idea behind his EK series and his future freelance ventures

Bringing video game characters to life: Calum Alexander Watt chats about joining the team at Improbable and what to expect from them in the future

Sketching to explore 3D forms: Kurt Papstein shares his sketchbook and how it helps form his 3D sculptures

The gallery: Giorgio Grecu and Klaus Pillon feature in this issue’s gallery selection of our top 10 images

Get to grips with integrating photos: Using his sci-fi image, Rich Tilbury how to use photos and brushes to add detail to your images

Learn to paint with photo textures: Discover the photo texture techniques top concept artist, Donglu Yu uses to add realism to fantasy concepts

Top tips for creating narratives: Mike Azevedo explores lighting methods to build on characters and atmosphere

Crafting sci-fi scenes: Geoffrey Ernault uses gradients and brushwork techniques to communicate visual direction

Discover the art of scale and perspective: Juan Pablo Roldan shares industry tips and the workflow behind his image EL ARCA

Develop your digital painting skills: Gabriel Romero divulges methods of painting with just three simple brushes to hone your skills

Digital art master: B. Börkur Eiríksson: Discover how to create a painterly piece using Photoshop