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navateSKIN: a tutorial - Part 1

Published: 2009-11-21 15:24:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 579378; Favourites: 16740; Downloads: 18309
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Description UPDATE 7/31/2011: I've uploaded a slightly revised version. Content is still the same.
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This tutorial is very extensive and will be published in (at least) four parts.

IN THIS SECTION:
Skin basics: A simple but in-depth look that expands beyond the usual shadow-midtone-highlight formula, and how to use each tonal range most effectively.

SECTION II: Skin tones. how to apply the basic formula to light, medium, dark, and fantasy skin tones.

COMING SOON:
SECTION III: Background color and ambient light. How surrounding colors affect skin.
SECTION IV: Building a skin tone, blending and texturing. The technical section showing how to paint skin start to finish.
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This tutorial uses mostly digital work as examples, but the theory behind it should apply to ALL mediums. But of course it goes without saying that this is hardly the end-all-be-all of skin painting tutorials. Just my way of thinking about it.

I tried to make this accessible for artists of all skill levels. Intermediate artists will probably benefit the most. Beginners will probably find some of the principles discussed difficult to put into practice. But don’t be frustrated! The only “secret” to being a good painter is practice. And hopefully even advanced painters will be able to glean something useful.

Also-- this should go without saying, but I will say it anyway: the ONLY WAY to learn how to paint/draw anything well, let alone realistically, is to STUDY COLOR THEORY AND FORM. All the stuff I blather on about in this tutorial is meaningless unless you take the initiative to learn the fundamentals of color and figure drawing.
Color theory resources can be found HERE .

Please, any questions, concerns, criticisms, etc: comment below.

Thanks so much for the DD!


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Comments: 734

Hunter-Wolf In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 19:02:06 +0000 UTC]

Simply brilliant and very well made, i can see lots of effort has been put into this .. i specially like how you use thumbnail drawings to get the point through (here and more in Part 2).

So thanks a lot for sharing and can't wait to see the rest of the tutorial series ... keep it up.

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navate In reply to Hunter-Wolf [2009-12-02 19:25:32 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much

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EldarZakirov In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 14:22:44 +0000 UTC]

Well made tutorial! Thanks!

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EldarZakirov In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 14:22:08 +0000 UTC]

Well made tutorial! Thanks!

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navate In reply to EldarZakirov [2009-12-02 15:23:47 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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wdfxy In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 08:08:14 +0000 UTC]

Wow

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navate In reply to wdfxy [2009-12-02 15:23:10 +0000 UTC]

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Snigom In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 07:15:19 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for the most informative skin coloring tutorial I have ever seen in over 20 years *clap*

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navate In reply to Snigom [2009-12-02 15:23:32 +0000 UTC]

Aw, thank you and you're welcome.

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Fuzzypop In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 06:19:19 +0000 UTC]

Incredible and so helpful! Thank you so much.

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navate In reply to Fuzzypop [2009-12-02 15:14:17 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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boot-cheese-3000 In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 05:39:53 +0000 UTC]

now this is amazing seeing that i want to learn how to color on photoshop much better than i have been so far. perfect tips and tricks for someone like me. this gets my patented "thumbz up" award. can't wait to see the rest of the series unfold.

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navate In reply to boot-cheese-3000 [2009-12-02 18:11:01 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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boot-cheese-3000 In reply to navate [2009-12-03 01:21:30 +0000 UTC]

oh no--thank you for sharing your secret.

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Royal-Guard-Lover In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 05:01:53 +0000 UTC]

wow, you colour skin...uh amazingly. i mainly do anime art but i want to be good at realism too(and im sure this can help me with anime skin as well)

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navate In reply to Royal-Guard-Lover [2009-12-02 15:55:18 +0000 UTC]

Yes, absolutely. Anime/cel shading generally sticks to what I call the mid-tone range in this tutorial. The main color is the base tone, and then the "transition"/lightest mid-tone is the highlight color and the darkest mid-tone acts as the shadow. So just simplify it a bunch, I suppose!

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andytantowibelzark In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 04:32:23 +0000 UTC]

GREAT ART!!!! love it~~

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navate In reply to andytantowibelzark [2009-12-02 15:12:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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oOoKiwiioOo In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 03:55:33 +0000 UTC]

thank you for uploading this
C:
quick question though
if i were to paint with acrylic
for the warmth tones
do i mix it with the skin tone
or do i add it as like a glaze?
thanks C:

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navate In reply to oOoKiwiioOo [2009-12-02 16:03:13 +0000 UTC]

Real paint makes things easier because you can start with pure color. You can work with glazes if that is what you are more comfortable with, or you can pull the red tones directly into the mid-tones mixed on your palette and use that color more opaquely.

The reason I specify to mix the warmth tones on top with digital is because color doesn't function quite the same way. With acrylics you're already using that pure color somewhere in the process, which is what blending the warmth tone on top of the mid-tones is meant to mimic in digital programs.

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oOoKiwiioOo In reply to navate [2009-12-02 22:26:12 +0000 UTC]

oh okay
thanks C:

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paulashins In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 03:43:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you god dammn it this is AMAZING!

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navate In reply to paulashins [2009-12-02 15:09:44 +0000 UTC]

Hahahaha Thank you

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Adrizzle In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 03:13:02 +0000 UTC]

Nice :3

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navate In reply to Adrizzle [2009-12-02 15:09:06 +0000 UTC]

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arhcamt In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 03:12:38 +0000 UTC]

thank you very much! it's really inspiring.

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navate In reply to arhcamt [2009-12-02 15:08:59 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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jjengo In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 01:44:28 +0000 UTC]

lovely!

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navate In reply to jjengo [2009-12-02 15:02:54 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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NaurCalad In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 01:16:11 +0000 UTC]

AHA! And you thought people would get confused reading this tutorial, huh?! YOU GOT A DD! XD Congrats! And like I said before, it is a wonderful tutorial indeed!

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navate In reply to NaurCalad [2009-12-02 15:08:26 +0000 UTC]

I think my fear of doing badly is the only thing that makes me do things well, hahahaha. But I really was worried people would be confused...it's a difficult subject. So I'm very thankful that I've apparently hit the right note.

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henning In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 01:01:01 +0000 UTC]

Very good tutorial, and congratulations on the DD

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navate In reply to henning [2009-12-02 15:01:57 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Henning. I will post it on forums, including PB, once all four sections are available.

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itsNateKelly In reply to ??? [2009-12-02 00:05:58 +0000 UTC]

Very helpful!

and that face at the top reminds me of the Pendragon Series covers!

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navate In reply to itsNateKelly [2009-12-02 15:02:33 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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itsNateKelly In reply to navate [2009-12-02 18:34:04 +0000 UTC]

No, thank YOU for the help! ^_^

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electric-ace In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 23:59:45 +0000 UTC]

Masterful and well-thought out, I really am able to understand this tutorial, and have a minor bit of confidence thanks to your clear instruction and your helpful tips! Thank you very much!

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navate In reply to electric-ace [2009-12-02 15:02:48 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help!

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Ja-Kitsu-Ryou In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 23:50:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. It really is a blessing. !

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navate In reply to Ja-Kitsu-Ryou [2009-12-02 14:50:26 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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AngelusNoir In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 23:17:20 +0000 UTC]

well-deserved DD,your notes on skin colours and tones are fantastic!!....you've said in a page what many people would take a book to write!!

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navate In reply to AngelusNoir [2009-12-02 18:05:04 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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mxlove In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 22:06:23 +0000 UTC]

we love you <3

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navate In reply to mxlove [2009-12-02 02:39:50 +0000 UTC]

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BeehiveStudio In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 22:04:01 +0000 UTC]

amazing tut

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navate In reply to BeehiveStudio [2009-12-02 02:39:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

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ryanja In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 22:03:50 +0000 UTC]

perfect just what i needed. thanks for sharing

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navate In reply to ryanja [2009-12-02 02:42:32 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help!

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M-D-Spazz In reply to ??? [2009-12-01 21:59:25 +0000 UTC]

Dear Lord, I think I love you!

I ALWAYS have a hard time doing skin color :\ So this could really help me


DD much deserved, my friend!

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navate In reply to M-D-Spazz [2009-12-02 14:38:30 +0000 UTC]

Hahahaha Thank you, glad to be of help.

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