DRAWING SKIN TONES WITH COLORED PENCILS | Color Guide

Summary

In this detailed tutorial, the artist shares a step-by-step process for creating a skin tone color guide using a versatile color palette, ideal for achieving consistent and realistic results in colored pencil portraits. The video covers various techniques for layering colors, maintaining transparency, and controlling pressure, helping artists develop the skills to mix skin tones effectively. With tips on adjusting tones, neutralizing colors, and creating depth, this guide provides valuable insights for beginners and experienced artists alike, offering a clear approach to mastering skin tones in portrait drawing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Drawing realistic skin tones in colored pencil requires understanding layering and color control.
• 😀 Start with a light, transparent layer and gradually build more intense layers for depth and dimension.
• 😀 The Faber-Castell Polychromos 12-set is used as the base, but any similar pencils can be substituted.
• 😀 Pressure control is crucial, from whisper-light layers (pressure 1) to heavier ones (pressure 4) for building depth.
• 😀 Yellow is a foundational color, often combined with reds, blues, and whites to create natural skin tones.
• 😀 Skin tones vary by area on the face, so control over layering and blending is key to realism.
• 😀 Light blue helps neutralize red and yellow tones, giving the skin a more natural, neutral look.
• 😀 Using ochre and walnut colors helps achieve darker skin tones, adding complexity and richness.
• 😀 Magenta is used to tone down overly bright red hues, contributing to a more natural skin tone.
• 😀 Blending with a colorless blender pencil enhances smooth transitions between colors and layers.
• 😀 Skin tone creation is an iterative process—keep practicing, take notes, and build your own custom palette.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of this tutorial?

The tutorial aims to guide viewers through creating a skin tone color guide using an unlimited color palette to achieve consistent and realistic skin tones in colored pencil portraits.

What supplies are recommended for this tutorial?

The recommended supplies are Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils, Fabriano Artistico hot press paper, M&R pencil sharpener, Prismacolor color blender, and a white pencil from either Luminance or Prismacolor.

How does the artist suggest controlling pressure while drawing skin tones?

The artist suggests using a scale of pressure, with 1 being a whisper light layer, 2 being the typical writing pressure, 3 slightly heavier than writing pressure, and 4 being a strong pressure, while still maintaining transparency in the layers.

Why is it important to maintain transparency when working with colored pencils?

Transparency is crucial because it allows for the creation of rich undertones and depth in the skin tones. It helps build layers without making the colors too thick, ensuring that additional layers can be added easily.

What colors are used in the first section for light skin tone?

In the first section, the artist starts with a base layer of yellow, followed by a layer of Scarlet Red, and then adds a white pencil at pressure 2 to blend the colors together.

How does the artist handle the use of blue in the skin tone layering process?

The artist uses light blue to neutralize the red and yellow tones in the skin, which helps tone down the pinkish hues and create a more realistic skin color. Blue is applied lightly to keep the skin tone balanced.

What is the purpose of adding magenta in the skin tone layers?

Magenta is used to help tone down the brightness of the skin tones, sitting on the purple side of the color wheel. It provides a more muted and controlled effect, contributing to realistic shadowing and depth.

What role does the blending pencil play in the process?

The blending pencil is used to smoothly mix and integrate the colors, ensuring that the layers are well-blended and transitions are seamless. It also helps in softening the overall appearance of the skin tones.

How does the artist transition to darker skin tones in the later sections?

In the darker sections, the artist starts with a base layer of ochre and builds up the tones with colors like walnut, scarlet red, and magenta, gradually using darker shades to achieve depth and realistic shadows.

Why does the artist recommend using a grid for practicing skin tones?

The grid helps in organizing and layering different skin tones systematically. It serves as a reference guide to practice consistency in layering, pressure, and color combinations, which is vital for developing realistic skin tones in portraits.