In the end, I just opted to using photobased damage like Racer shows in his excellent tutorial. Handpainting was arduous and didn't yield satisfactory results.
Nope - all we used was my handpainted textures and some planes with black and white gradients on multiply or additive to give glowy or shadowy effects on the ground.
Currently practicing in school on handpainted textures. The model of this gun was NOT made by me. We only had to texture just with a diffuse (no lighting in the scene whatsoever). Wip:
I didn't expect to participate this time, but really fell in love with the handpainted one! So here's my blockout! 3D was made with Maya, and the render with Marmoset:
Yeah Yeah not handpainted but I'm on limited time this month :) Quick tileable stylized substance designer slab generator I'll use for some parts of the environment.
I'm currently available for 3D work! :) You can contact me at AnnieM@Royalsharkart.com Here are a few examples of recently completed 3D Handpainted Props.
Update: Texture progress, handpainted in substance painter using hard/soft round and single texture channel. I'll be iterating on the metal and tattoos. Feedback appreciated.