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Have you ever seen a bust used in special effects makeup or art? Or maybe you’ve used a prosthetic to enhance your special effects makeup. If so, you’ve probably run into the art of painting skin tones.
If you yourself have never tried painting skin tone, let me tell you. It is not as simple as just using a foundation color.
No, mastering the art of painting skin tones is getting to know the true colors of the skin, its undertones, the veins…there are so many important details, but mastering these skills can really make a difference in your own art.
I can’t wait to share with you what I’ve learned about the secret to getting the perfect flesh-toned paint job. We’re gonna dig into painting realistic skin and the secret to making your project look perfect.
When looking for tutorials, many of them used different mediums (or supplies). The reasons for using different mediums vary by artist.
I didn’t want to stop at learning how to create flesh tones with only makeup. I wanted a truly artistic background in painting flesh. I believed this would give us the best overall advice.
So, I watched tutorials and read everything I could get my hands on. I wanted to know how flesh tones are reached when painting canvas with oil paints. I also researched painting silicone and other materials specific to makeup effects.
Of everything, the following information and links are the ones I found most helpful. I hope you find them helpful too!
Here are a few terms related to painting flesh tones that you may need to understand before going forward.
A watered down or very light layer of paint
Adding a wash of a red tone to create a natural flush in the skin
Adding irregular spots of color with a sponge or flicks of a brush
Taking a brush with a little paint, bending back the bristles, and releasing them so specks of paint land on the canvas (in the case of makeup, the canvas is the skin)
Adding a pattern of lines that resemble veins
The Step-by-Step Skin Tone Tutorial
This generous tutorial includes plenty of pictures to go along with simple explanations.
This alone should give you a head start on doing some really fantastic paintwork. But it gets better.
When I saw the photo of this project, the one that’s posted first, I thought to myself DAYum. That paint job looks awesome.
Most of the people who commented on the project agreed, but lucky for the artist there was also some constructive criticism.
He followed their suggestions and it turned this awesome project into a masterpiece.
I encourage you to read the entire thread, but some of the highlights include:
This tutorial is very detailed and offers some added value on getting that realistic skin tone. The photos show what each step accomplishes, and he gives advice on how to adjust the steps to your needs, for example, different skin tones.
If you’re an airbrush buff, then you’ll find great tips on getting some advanced effects. If not don’t worry. You’ll still find this tutorial useful.
I watched a lot of videos on the topic of painting flesh, and I don’t think any of them were wasted time. I encourage you to search for more videos and watch the ones that interest you.
Even if they’re about painting on flat canvases. Even if the approach is a little different. I still thought that everything I watched was helpful.
Stay up-to-date with a few interesting emails about creative makeup.