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navateSKIN: a tutorial - Part 1

Published: 2009-11-21 15:24:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 578723; 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

lukaszart [2010-08-30 13:43:32 +0000 UTC]

I know how to draw but the world of digital painting is still new to me.
This tutorial will be very helpful for me. Thank you.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to lukaszart [2010-09-10 00:41:18 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Arnymacs In reply to ??? [2010-08-21 19:01:41 +0000 UTC]

Your tutorials helped me a lot in my colorings Thanks! Keep up the good work!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Arnymacs [2010-09-10 00:41:25 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Suik3 [2010-08-21 11:03:15 +0000 UTC]

I can't wait for III an IV, thanks a lot, really helpful and well explained.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Suik3 [2010-09-10 00:41:02 +0000 UTC]

I'm really sorry it is taking so long for the next sections... just, work stuff.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Suik3 In reply to navate [2010-09-10 10:10:22 +0000 UTC]

You're doing it for free anyway, you shouldn't apologize.

I'm grateful for the two you wrote! (=

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

6Thereaper In reply to ??? [2010-08-17 20:27:44 +0000 UTC]

thx alot

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to 6Thereaper [2010-08-25 21:09:11 +0000 UTC]

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mistirpoeftes In reply to ??? [2010-08-16 12:57:39 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much. I love learning new techniques.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to mistirpoeftes [2010-09-10 00:47:36 +0000 UTC]

Welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

kanariad3090 In reply to ??? [2010-08-15 14:11:31 +0000 UTC]

oh god i love you, this is very helpful

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to kanariad3090 [2010-08-18 00:38:41 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

fuzzygreyhat In reply to ??? [2010-08-11 02:37:13 +0000 UTC]

These tutorials are awesome. Thank you very much.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to fuzzygreyhat [2010-08-18 00:38:13 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Datlun In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 08:54:46 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for these tutorials of yours, they're great.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Datlun [2010-08-25 21:08:58 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Nissanthen In reply to ??? [2010-08-06 22:30:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Nissanthen [2010-08-07 14:05:30 +0000 UTC]

Welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

amiliucoolio In reply to ??? [2010-08-04 14:41:14 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for taking your time, making this. keep it up.

I have learnt alot from this tutorial.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to amiliucoolio [2010-08-07 14:05:19 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, glad to be of help

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

IgnisDrakos [2010-08-02 12:58:59 +0000 UTC]

these are amazing thanks it really helps

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to IgnisDrakos [2010-08-07 14:05:01 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Panda-chan231 [2010-07-28 18:40:58 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! This is very helpful! Thank you for posting this, this will help me a lot in the future.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Panda-chan231 [2010-08-07 14:02:55 +0000 UTC]

Glad to help!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

yogiganesh In reply to ??? [2010-07-24 03:33:07 +0000 UTC]

awesome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to yogiganesh [2010-07-24 04:03:48 +0000 UTC]

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ShariRey [2010-07-23 02:55:44 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, I found it extremely helpful!!!
You're amazing

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to ShariRey [2010-07-23 19:05:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

wordsmithsonian [2010-07-03 21:33:45 +0000 UTC]

wonderful technique, thanks for sharing!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to wordsmithsonian [2010-07-09 16:52:00 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Salvador-Raga [2010-06-28 16:03:38 +0000 UTC]

Awesome tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Salvador-Raga [2010-07-03 17:38:44 +0000 UTC]

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jabala [2010-06-27 05:51:56 +0000 UTC]

thanks for sharing. good job!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to jabala [2010-06-27 17:25:38 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

VarisVarjo In reply to ??? [2010-06-24 17:50:31 +0000 UTC]

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you - I can't say it enough often XDD
Really... this was incredibly helpful for me...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to VarisVarjo [2010-06-27 17:24:50 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MissingMyMind In reply to ??? [2010-06-18 07:14:05 +0000 UTC]

This is freaking awesome. You just solved my skin colouring issues. Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to MissingMyMind [2010-06-18 14:39:02 +0000 UTC]

Whoo!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

ConceptCat In reply to ??? [2010-06-12 17:05:33 +0000 UTC]

Glad a friend showed me your page!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to ConceptCat [2010-06-17 20:25:23 +0000 UTC]

Glad you stopped by

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ConceptCat In reply to navate [2010-06-17 20:31:59 +0000 UTC]

NP You're really good. I couldn't help but share your tutorials with others. So I posted it in a journal...

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

the-Leander In reply to ??? [2010-06-11 02:01:18 +0000 UTC]

This is very helpful and informative! Thank you very much for making it!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to the-Leander [2010-06-17 20:25:30 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Blue-Kitsune In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 17:35:28 +0000 UTC]

This was incredibly useful! Thank you for putting this up. It is especially helpful because many artists don't have a wide variety of hues and tones for their skin, making them look "plastic" as you said(I'm guilty of plasticness as well haha). Once again, thank you for your input

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to Blue-Kitsune [2010-06-08 19:05:57 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! The reason a lot of artists have these problems is because digital art is so accessible. This is great, but it also carries the downside of letting people dive right in with no artistic training/knowledge. I'm not someone who believes there is a right way to do or learn art, but with realism so popular that lack of training creates a lot of barriers for people who want to learn how to paint realistically. Hopefully I've given people a leg up.

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Blue-Kitsune In reply to navate [2010-06-08 19:45:18 +0000 UTC]

yeah it takes some exploring to do realism. But I would say the artists without training are capable of semi-realism at best. I dont think there is a right way to learn art, there are however, ways that work. There is always an alternative method. I personally have come across a few of the barriers, but not for realism. Yes, I believe many artists will thank you for that leg up

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

itseebitsee In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 15:15:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for sharing such a great tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

navate In reply to itseebitsee [2010-06-08 18:53:27 +0000 UTC]

You're most welcome

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

sschanche In reply to ??? [2010-06-08 13:05:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for the tutorial : )

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


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