Tutorial: Drawing skin tones with color pencils

Natascha in Summertime step by step gallery.

Enlarge the pictures by clicking on them. In zoom mode, tap/click the image to show / hide comments.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 1/15: Outlines in place!

Natascha in Summertime WIP 2/15: I fill the first skin layer with rough basic strokes using water based color pencils, This defines the color scheme and prepares the patches of light and shadow. The upper half is already blended with water. The pencils on the picture show the colors I used for this layer.

Natascha In Summertime WIP 3/15: The second layer is added in the same manner as the first, to deepen the shadows.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 4/15: Third layer: Beginning to smooth out the surface using oil based pencils. The pencils on the picture show the colors I used for this layer.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 5/15: Fourth layer. Keep smoothing out the surface using sharp pencils and fine hatching. The pencils on the picture show the colors I used for this layer.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 6/15: For the fifth layer, I used ochre.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 7/15: Now I'm adding details like eyes and mouth, only with those in place you can estimate the proper shading of the 6th skin layer around them.The pencils on the picture show the colors I used for this skin layer.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 8/15: Seventh skin layer. The pencils on the picture show the colors I used for this layer.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 9/15: Eigth layer. I add cool reflective lights to the shadows using blue and gray tones.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 10/15: Completing the skin for the rest of her body.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 11/15: Preparing the background using the watercolor technique.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 12/15: After blending the first background layer with water, I use the same cross-hatching technique described earlier, to smooth the gradient.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 13/15: Adding further fine skin layers to add a finishing touch.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 14/15: Closeup of the final skin structure.

Natascha in Summertime WIP 15/15: Closeup of the eye detail

See the finished drawing, here!

WIP photos were shot by Natascha Klein Photography.

Comments

Dale

14/12/2014 04:00

Markus, your work is amazing and inspiring. Plus, you are correct, your wife is very beautiful. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work.

Leave a comment:

To prevent automated submissions, this form requires you to enter a confirmation code. The code is displayed in the image below. Enter the code exactly as it appears. If you have problems reading the code, request a new one by submitting the form.