Mixing a Flesh Tone

Learn to mix an assortment of flesh colors that can later be used for painting a portrait. This simple mixture will reduce your trial and error when trying to paint people with realistic skin tones.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• flesh tone
• skin tone
• portrait colors
• learn acrylic portrait
• howto

[JadeBlackFTW]

Is this Matt from Drawing Tutorials Online or do you have the exact same voice as him? :|

[HelloArtsy]

@JadeBlackFTW

no

[DustinsReality]

After creating these 10 colors do you transfer them to a different pallet and add your medium or do you just add the medium right there on the mixing pallet?

[HelloArtsy]

@DustinsReality

I typically cut each pile roughly in half and add medium to one half. This way I can always "go back" to the original mixture without the medium(s) added. I do much pile splitting when i paint.

[MsBethLondon]

I would of liked to have seen colours for ethinic flesh tones also, these particular colours are great only for pale to olive skin types. What colours are good for asian and black skin?

I've heard to add blue, I don't know if that's correct, as when I try it, it doesn't look right.

[HelloArtsy]

@MsBethLondon Blue could be great or it could be a disaster, it all depends on the combination, I generally stay away from pthalo; way to strong. I would actually use this 3 color combo(2 colors + white) as a base and add other colors to achieve other "ethnic" -(as you say) skin color varieties. For example some Asian skin types might work well backing off the red a tad and adding just a touch of chromium oxide green. Folks of African decent could use some burnt/raw umber added to the mix.

[JadeBlackFTW]

... I'll take that as a yes. IDENTITY REVEALED. BUHAHA.

[HelloArtsy]

The palette is a place to mix paints and organize your colors, in this tutorial I am using a pad of disposable palette paper. There is no official rule for lights or darks in any order when using oils or acrylics as an artist can lighten or darken as needed. (watercolor is another matter)

[JeySivaNavam]

do u use paper all the time to create ur skin or do u use the pallete after im confused, and whats the rule my artist comrades, do we paint light areas 1st to dark and also where on the face do we start. (im obviously a beginner :))

[CarlTYLERkills]

very helpful i am getting started into painting and while my sketches and proportions are good my painting skills arn't thanks alot i will suscribe