HOME | DD

Published: 2009-11-21 15:24:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 578696; Favourites: 16743; Downloads: 18309
Redirect to original
Description
UPDATE 7/31/2011: I've uploaded a slightly revised version. Content is still the same._
This tutorial is very extensive and will be published in (at least) four parts.
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.
COMING SOON:
__
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.
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.
Please, any questions, concerns, criticisms, etc: comment below.
Thanks so much for the DD!
follow me:
Instagram :: Tumblr :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Prints & Originals Store
Related content
Comments: 734
XawesomenessofcoolX [2014-04-03 02:46:40 +0000 UTC]
Thank you for making this, it was really helpful.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
steph0804 [2014-02-23 05:44:07 +0000 UTC]
Amazing! Your tutorial is by far the most comprehensive yet understandable one I have been able to find-- thank you!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Zunachina [2014-02-09 21:46:08 +0000 UTC]
too complicated (I'll have to come back when I get a bit better with realism :3)
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I-Do-Care [2014-02-09 02:25:48 +0000 UTC]
That is a wonderful tutorial. Thank you so much for taking the trouble to teach! You describe it so clearly, and the before/after comparison at the bottom really shows the difference your tips can make.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
cowgirlem [2014-01-29 08:00:59 +0000 UTC]
I love this! Goes into the level of detail I needed!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
GildedFrame [2014-01-21 23:46:45 +0000 UTC]
This is so helpful!! I'll most certainly be referring back to this!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Khadrimx [2014-01-15 20:31:06 +0000 UTC]
This is by far the most helpful skin tutorial I've seen online. I struggle with color/color theory. This broke it down in a logical way to help me understand. I can't wait to try and put it into practice! Thanks :3
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
UntoldPromises [2014-01-05 19:23:37 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much for this! You are truly talented and AMAZING!
Hopefully I can be as good as you one day
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
gkrit [2013-12-16 04:13:01 +0000 UTC]
this is really helpful ... just gotta put it to practise now ... but you highlight things I would have never even thought about.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Melody-Madness [2013-11-16 16:13:01 +0000 UTC]
This is incredibly helpful, thank you for taking the time and effort to make this. It's very much appreciated
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Ann-Onym95 [2013-10-27 17:27:01 +0000 UTC]
Looks very helpful, but I have a question though. I never know which brush is the best to draw skin and how I can make the skin look smooth (without noticable lines). I hope you understand my question. an answer would be nice
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
wolfik007 [2013-10-01 13:57:40 +0000 UTC]
Oh thank you, THANK YOU!
I must say for myself I think I have quite mastered the art of pencil, but colours, and especially skin colours, were something
like foreign and forbbiden land to me. I was sad for that, because I am able to enjoy colors I see
around me, with the various colours of the sky beginning and with variety of colours on my own hand ending.
But you were able to open a peek hole into that land, and now I feel I can do trying it and one day,
one day I will draw these as simply as I do with pencil.
Thanks. Looking forward to the next ones.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
sofiaee In reply to ??? [2013-08-30 04:48:04 +0000 UTC]
I just thought you should know, this tutorial helped me SO SO much to paint this. It's one of my favorite technical pieces I've done so far. Thank you for making this
sofiaee.deviantart.com/art/Col…
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
SerelyArtworks In reply to ??? [2013-08-13 14:06:24 +0000 UTC]
This tutorial is incredible, it could be a part of a school lesson. Thank you very much for this excellent one!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
SxxN [2013-08-02 05:09:35 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much. I've been relearning your tuts for several times and improving by them.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
EtheralBlade [2013-06-27 23:09:10 +0000 UTC]
i commended your tutorial here [link] ... i dont know if i posted this again xD ... thx for the tutorial... this is what i did after your tutorial... and this is what i did before [link] ... many thx : D
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
KKupcake133 [2013-05-13 21:28:56 +0000 UTC]
I must say I absolutely love the skin tutorials that you did, this is the most helpful one I found and I had to thank you for it! This has helped a lot to figure out why mine was so plastic looking! This is fantastic! THANK YOU SO MUCH
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
LadyKalynne [2013-04-18 17:43:35 +0000 UTC]
Hi there, I am just getting into digital painting...and I have been getting so frustrated with doing realistic skin! And this tutorial has really opened my eyes! So, thank you very much for the help Beautiful work. I hope some day I will be able to reach this level of skill
Kalynne
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
ParagonOfVirtue [2013-04-14 22:21:40 +0000 UTC]
Wow! you really dig into the complexity of skin I can't believe how much I learned in just a few paragraphs
cheerfully waiting for parts III & IV
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
MorriganBlue [2013-03-26 23:20:40 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much for this godly tutorial. I've wished to be able to join some sort of art school all my life, because while it's handy to google everything, there actually are very if not none at all people who can actually dumb down the process for you and get into the smart details which, if taken in consideration, can actually make it look if not anatomically correct, at least more like a damn piece of real skin. Your tutorial is the closest thing to an actual good teacher's explanation which is awesome. I mean... so many tutorials saying "this is how i do it".... but none explaining WHY.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
JeanaWei [2013-03-21 00:19:56 +0000 UTC]
Hi there, I have a question as to what type of brushes you use? I use photoshop so there's not a lot of water brushes and such, how can I also get a smooth, natural skin using photoshop?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
navate In reply to JeanaWei [2013-03-21 15:39:00 +0000 UTC]
In Photoshop I use a custom brush like this one to blend skin (and cloth and a lot of other stuff): [link]
It lets you create smooth but gently textured blends, which is perfect for skin. In my own work I also use Corel Painter, but you should be able to achieve a nice result in just Photoshop as well.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Loistavia [2013-03-13 13:25:53 +0000 UTC]
Which pencils do you use? They seem so smooth! I tried with round hard brush but that becomes to harsh! Please help?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
navate In reply to Loistavia [2013-03-21 15:37:06 +0000 UTC]
Yeah, blending with a hard brush is tough! I lay down my color with a hard round brush, but I blend with a brush like this one: [link]
I also use Corel Painter's oil pastels and oils to blend.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
kupieckorzenny [2013-02-20 16:43:52 +0000 UTC]
Do you create flat one-color layer at first, and than you add shadow and light, or do you start with few stains of shadow and light, or how?
And thank you for great tutorial. Immpressionist first noticed that shades are colorful, didn't they? Anyway, it's the first tutorial where author was focusing on colors so much, this is what I was looking for.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
navate In reply to kupieckorzenny [2013-02-20 20:56:33 +0000 UTC]
I kind of start with a middle-mid tone and a darker mid-tone to establish a rough form, then build from there.
Nah, impressionists just didn't bother to blend anything and exaggerated all light/color effects. I see it really come "into fashion" around the Baroque/Rococo period, though there were painters doing it before then as well.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
kupieckorzenny In reply to navate [2013-02-20 21:02:07 +0000 UTC]
Thank you And keep doing awesome work.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Lycantreia [2013-02-20 08:58:20 +0000 UTC]
I bow to you and your work, your willingness to teach and share, and your immeasurable talent in gratitude, awe and sincere love.
i just started to draw, and i learn so much just by looking at your beautiful, beautiful pictures.
thank you so much.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
ESCkid [2013-02-12 09:48:08 +0000 UTC]
I tend to do digital art, when blending, would you recommend the use of blending tools e.g. "multiply" and "overlay" or just work on altering the "opacity" of the color? Or being versatile in that approach?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
navate In reply to ESCkid [2013-02-12 12:55:57 +0000 UTC]
I use the opacity slider.; some people use the flow slider. Others use Layer Modes. There isn't any "right" way! It depends on what works best for what you're doing.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
ESCkid In reply to navate [2013-02-12 13:53:21 +0000 UTC]
understood.
Thanks for the info, it is incredibly enlightening. Gives me stuff to think about, I knew a bit about the various colors for mid, highlighting and shadows. I just lacked the skill to use it. xD
Using your tut il definitely gain some more perspective and build a default palette to use as references trying to vary.
Much appreciated!!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
| Next =>