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navateSKIN: a tutorial - Part 1

Published: 2009-11-21 15:24:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 578596; Favourites: 16743; 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

Mirk217 [2013-01-29 09:53:02 +0000 UTC]

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Mirk217 [2013-01-29 09:52:08 +0000 UTC]

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Amicus-Nocte [2013-01-14 19:43:25 +0000 UTC]

this is going to be awesome

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CelticStrm-Stock [2013-01-08 03:48:12 +0000 UTC]

Hiyas! You've been featured at here: [link]

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TheSkaldofNvrwinter [2013-01-03 17:02:48 +0000 UTC]

you really don't have to get that detailed on a sphere, at least to begin with. I'm just learning. I'm going with the 5 elements of shading, as a start: full light, reflected light, halftone, shadow edge, and cast shadow

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Gipokras [2012-12-19 09:22:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!!

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xChibinChanx [2012-12-19 00:07:40 +0000 UTC]

This tutorial is extremely helpful! Really, thank you for posting this up!~ =^_^=

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Roxyrn [2012-12-16 02:58:50 +0000 UTC]

Kudos for this tutorial!! Enormeously appreciated <3

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TheLearningArtist [2012-12-14 22:30:21 +0000 UTC]

Do you have a tutorial on the actual painting of the skin?

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VivanSolem [2012-12-12 07:22:41 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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jill-fogarty [2012-12-10 00:43:57 +0000 UTC]

This looks great!

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ofkuro [2012-11-16 12:49:33 +0000 UTC]

It's very helpful. thank you.

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going8z [2012-11-11 20:58:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for posting this tutorial. I've been looking all over the internet and couldn't really find anything about drawing or painting different skin tones and shading. Particularly dark skin tone. It was very frustrating. Thanks again

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ImmortalFlames [2012-11-10 22:34:44 +0000 UTC]

great tutorial you've helped me a lot. i'm painting my sister's face and i was finding it difficult because for the shadows i added black, which made her look dead

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Grusart [2012-11-07 09:58:30 +0000 UTC]

Definitely worth putting in favourites! Very helpful - thanks a lot for making!

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TheQuamquatTree [2012-10-24 13:46:12 +0000 UTC]

Neat

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Ahrkaene [2012-10-22 02:22:29 +0000 UTC]

Amazing tutorial! Thanks for sharing

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noxfoxArts [2012-10-21 14:55:47 +0000 UTC]

This is a very good tutorial and the two sections of it both deserve their respective DD I'm not a beginner but it's always good to bring a little theory back through the practice.

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ToniTails In reply to ??? [2012-10-17 04:00:28 +0000 UTC]

thank you so much for sharing! this is a great tutorial!

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danielmafra In reply to ??? [2012-10-15 13:52:35 +0000 UTC]

Very nice tutorial!

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Mojo-Smileyface [2012-10-10 00:33:43 +0000 UTC]

wow this is great, just what I need thanks!

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JSCampbell43 [2012-10-08 06:35:40 +0000 UTC]

awesome! very helpful!

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misiaclive [2012-10-05 16:29:17 +0000 UTC]

This is great! Thanks

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jupejuperocket [2012-10-05 01:17:08 +0000 UTC]

I absolutely love it. Thank you. I just finished a deviation using your technique and will link back to you. Looking forward to part 3.

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Eccentric-Art [2012-09-27 07:43:50 +0000 UTC]

Very awesome. Thank you for making this tutorial.

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marinaawin [2012-09-22 13:50:13 +0000 UTC]

Hi, I used your tutorial (1 and 2) for the skin here [link]

Thank you.

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myhappygirl [2012-09-22 11:06:21 +0000 UTC]

GREAT HELLLLLLLP ^^

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selkie-fox [2012-09-22 07:16:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! This will be so helpful

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alizawren [2012-09-16 22:58:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for this... painting skin is still very hard for me D: but this makes me want to try harder! It makes sense, too~

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Lou331 [2012-09-16 12:55:32 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic tutorials thx for taking the time to post these, wonderful info
thx Lou

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Hercool [2012-09-16 12:21:28 +0000 UTC]

very useful, thanks!!

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Maffoo [2012-09-14 06:56:07 +0000 UTC]

Nice tutorial. Thanks

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suchiMANGOLASSI [2012-09-14 03:41:35 +0000 UTC]

This is really helpful and easy to understand! Thank you so much!

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Natmonkey [2012-09-13 17:09:56 +0000 UTC]

Nice, I'm sure this will come in handy for many people. Thank you for creating and sharing this!

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TorquatoL [2012-09-13 15:40:49 +0000 UTC]

This is simply too great! Thanks a lot!

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arrikitukis [2012-09-10 07:03:47 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot for your tutorials! now that i come to think of it, i made all the mistakes you said >_<

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Tsukiyokasou [2012-09-09 22:33:31 +0000 UTC]

This and the color swatches really help. I'm great with colored pencil skin tones, but I just started digital art and it's safe to say I kinda suck so far. I just find it really hard to get right in the range I want. It's easier for me to just layer different colors in pencil. xD Thanks!

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DreamWarrior [2012-09-08 17:12:44 +0000 UTC]

This tutorials are amazing. I've been wanting a really good explanation for skin tones and never found it, until now. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this!

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ShannaWhitlock [2012-08-27 16:06:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for this - it's amazingly detailed and in depth, all of the information is so helpful and useful - thanks again!

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adribas [2012-08-25 22:47:58 +0000 UTC]

i need to know .. i reallly really need to know which brush you use .... i really new at digital art and i really like the way you mak your artworks but i really need knwo know which brush to use... and where to find it please!!!! love your job is Amazing with a huge A

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smartboy9T In reply to ??? [2012-08-17 22:18:24 +0000 UTC]

thanks for this

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LadyDemon389 [2012-08-14 15:51:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you thank you thank you
This will help me a LOT.

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rubigrotto In reply to ??? [2012-08-08 23:43:10 +0000 UTC]

This is an awesome tutorial! Thank you so much for making it.

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MaroBee [2012-08-06 20:04:53 +0000 UTC]

This is a HUGE topic I really need to focus on right now too.Thanks a bunch Navate!

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Origami-Butterfly In reply to ??? [2012-07-26 22:41:38 +0000 UTC]

This is so wonderful. I'm trying to get more into digital painting and I have problems with using colors. I tend to limit my palette unintentionally and everything ends up looking really flat. I will check out the other sections of this tutorial, I hope to learn some good tips!

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marblesandjacks In reply to ??? [2012-07-23 17:58:51 +0000 UTC]

THANK YOU FOR THIS I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

*YAY*

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KTKoulos [2012-07-01 04:44:44 +0000 UTC]

aaaaaagh!!! this is fantastic...thank you so much for this tutorial!! I never thought I'd be capable of doing realistic/semi-realistic digital paintings, but maybe I will be able to, with this Tutorial!

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airadlore [2012-06-29 03:36:56 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for teh lessons Navate, were great!
[link]

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Ordblin In reply to ??? [2012-06-27 19:22:04 +0000 UTC]

As a novice in digital painting, your tutorial is like candy! Thank you SO much!!!

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gussie398 In reply to ??? [2012-06-12 03:34:44 +0000 UTC]

This and part two are so helpful! I tried doing the skin ball (that sounds gross and scary), but it didn't look like that! Gah. Can't wait for parts 3 and 4!

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