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Submitted: November 21, 2009
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SKIN: a tutorial - Part 1by ~navate

Resources & Stock Images / Tutorials / Digital Art / Drawing & Painting / Photoshop

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!

Daily Deviation

Given 2009-12-01

The suggester writes: I've seen many a skin tutorial in my day, but I have to say that SKIN: a tutorial - Part 1 by *navate is the best! Not only does it cover the basics, but it also takes into consideration points about skin that most tutorials do not cover, such as the difference between normal highlights and peak highlights. There's so much subtlety in skin and this tutorial gets right to the heart of this challenging topic. This tutorial series is not even finished yet, I'm amazed and waiting for the rest with baited breath. Thank you for sharing! ( Suggested by =AngelaSasser and Featured by `znow-white )

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~KKupcake133 4 days ago Student General Artist

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

~sheezor 6 days ago

Great stuff, very much appreciated!

*marinamaral May 4, 2013 Hobbyist Digital Artist

I quoted your tutorial here: [link]

~Thomgirl May 1, 2013

Thank you so much for this!

~stevep12 Apr 26, 2013

very nice work !!!

~iandale Apr 19, 2013 Professional Digital Artist

Very clear and helpful, thank you!!

~Kailerine Apr 18, 2013 Student General Artist

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