You can see the final line art, finished on the computer. I delete the extra channel (Blueline), & duplicated the Black Channel. Next I selected all in the Black channel and deleted it to white. I converted the file to RGB, and saved this with the tag HR - High Resolution.

I used Image Size to change the resolution to 150 DPI while keeping the dimensions the same (6x9 inches), and saved this with the tag LR (Low Resolution). This allows me to work faster, and get a fair amount of detail in.

When I've painted it as far as I can go, I will rez it back up to 300 DPI, copy and paste it back into the High Resolution version, and add more detail from there.

I painted in a colorful, smoky background on one layer, and created the ground texture in another.

Moving the smoky background layer above the ground art, I then used the Eraser Tool, set to Airbrush in the Options Palette, to slowly delete the smoke to let the ground show through.

I also had the Black Alpha Channel (containing the line art) eye icon clicked so I could see where Hellspont was standing. This way I don't uncover more ground than I need.

Once I got it the way I wanted, I merged the two background layers together into one (saves time redrawing, and memory this way).

I then created two new layers, one for the main part of the body, and one for the head and fire effect of Hellspont's skull.