How to Make Any Skin Tone With Watercolour

Hello everyone! This is a much-requested video and I've finally made it! In this watercolour tutorial I teach you how to make any skin tone with watercolours by using a trio of primary colours (red, blue and yellow).
It's essential that you practise these mixtures and experiment with all of the colours in your palette to really get to grips with tweaking the primaries to achieve natural, realistic skin tones.
TIME STAMPS
Important Colour Theory Crash-Course [00:39]
How To Mix A Skin Tone [02:54]
Mixing Light Through To Dark Skin Tones [06:29]
Variations Of Skin Tones [09:42]
Experimenting With Different Primary Colours [14:05]
I hope you enjoy it, find it useful and learn loads, and as always if you have any questions fire them off in the comments, J
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AFFILIATE LINKS
I am delighted to be a brand ambassador for Betty Hayways brushes (since November 2020). They are an independent vegan paint brush maker based in the UK and I used one of their brushes in this video.
Being an affiliate means that I am sponsored by the company to promote their products.
They have been my go-to brushes long before I became affiliated with the company and I highly recommend them for watercolourists of all levels.
If you would like to purchase Betty Hayways paint brushes, and you use the link below, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you: thechelseapape...
ART SUPPLIES
Daniel Smith Watercolours [French Ultramarine, Pyrrole Red & Hansa Yellow Medium]
Winsor & Newton Watercolours [Indanthrene Blue, Winsor Blue, Winsor Red, Magenta, Alizarin Crimson, Winsor Yellow]
Betty Hayways Watercolour Brush [Size 11]
Arteza Watercolour Paper (cellulose)
MUSIC [From Chillhop]
Sleepy Fish - Witch Hat chll.to/3f29d768
Sleepy Fish - The Noise in Pictures chll.to/0e9226fc
Sleepy Fish - Way Away chll.to/bdb438e7
Aarigod - Splendour chll.to/109b6c20
Aarigod - Evenfall chll.to/d1559b67
Sleepy Fish - Colors Fade chll.to/cf5cd1bb
Aarigod - Coda chll.to/434d541f
Sleepy Fish - Backyard Puddles chll.to/0e9bc07d

[@faithfuljohn]

I remember years ago trying to figure out how to paint my relatives and friends (who are black) and looking up resources I was appalled to see that most of the "professionals" who painted black people seem to think there was only one dark skin tone (and it was often a dull, mutated brown). But when I was trying to paint my friend and her dad they were 2 completely different browns and were not mutated or dull in tone. So thank you for this! Even showing that darker skin tones come in different 'warmth'.

[@mesiidesk2394]

People who know their colours and colour theory is ✨THE BEST✨

[@mesiidesk2394]

Love your brush btw 🥸

[@Finelinernerd]

Hey Mesii Desk! I have a lot more to learn I’m sure but glad you enjoyed hearing about what I know so far 🤗

[@garzapinups]

I used to use different diluted burnt sienna washes with pink, but I recently started experimenting with primary colors and it really is fascinating

[@appleknocker56]

For myself it’s not the mixing but putting them into faces but need to practice. Tyvm! Ty for color names

[@mafurock33]

Albeit, red and blue are not actually primary colors. It is magenta and cyan

[@matthewwalker7359]

After 28 years of being too scared to give into my artistic impulses, I’ve decided to take up watercolors. Something about the free flowing nature of the process with water resonates with me for why I want to nurture the artistic side of myself. For now, what interests me in watercolor above acrylic, oil, pencil, ect. Is that sometimes a mistake can be made that turns out to make the painting even better/unique in the end. Something about watercolor happens that even at the end of a painting if it looks like a preschool photo, the process and interactions with the water and pigment still created a process that was fulfilling. I’m sure that other mediums have similar aspects. But something about the carefree, yet intentional approach to watercolor is fascinating. Something sort of like you are intentionally allowing randomness. I find a lot of similarities to this in every day life as well as an outlet for unhealthy emotions that are caused by a lack of control in the world. Anyways, I just wanted to say that your videos have helped me a lot. There is a lot of self doubt when creating something it seems. But your videos have kept me consistent because you explain things very clearly. Thanks a lot!

[@isabellagentilin]

This is the BEST video I've seen that explains how to mix the wide range of skin tones, without having to purchase a new 'skin tone pallet'. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 😊

[@brognaarts3266]

I LOVE how you achieved those deep skin tones. You showed such a white range of skin tones.

[@Finelinernerd]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🤗🖤

[@brognaarts3266]

@@Finelinernerd WIDE** that’s embarrassing 😳

[@Finelinernerd]

I knew what you meant, autocorrect’s my arch nemesis almost daily 🙈

[@harishrangra8096]

I expected a war in the reply section of this comment.

[@CharlieGurrl2022]

@@harishrangra8096 same! I don't know if I'm relieved or disappointed 😂

[@hyunjinsdearbread2440]

ive been crying searching for a REALLY beginner painting skintones and then i found you! THANK YOU SO MUCH!! OMFG YOURE A GOD SEND

[@arleebean]

This video is fantastic!! I love how you've covered the topic so thoroughly and shown so much variation. ❤❤❤

[@Finelinernerd]

Thanks Arlee! What a lovely thing to say, it’s made my night 🤗🖤

[@imawonder]

Such a comprehensive video! All the swatches are so juicy and satisfying!

[@Finelinernerd]

Thanks lovey! 🖤🖤

[@zoelawless9133]

This has got to be the most helpful video I have ever watched!

[@LauraGYoung]

FYI: If you don't get the same mixing results in this video, be sure to check the pigment numbers on your tubes, NOT the marketing names, because they can vary widely! From what I can tell, the three main pigments used in this video were: 1) PR 254 -- "Pyrrol Red" in Daniel Smith, but also known as "Winsor Red" in Winsor Newton or "Scarlet Red" in Schminke, etc. 2) PY 97 -- "Hansa Yellow Medium" in Daniel Smith, but also called "Arylide Yellow FGL" in Da Vinci or "Hansa Yellow Deep" in M. Graham, etc. 3) PB29 -- "French Ultramarine Blue" in Daniel Smith, but also named "Ultramarine Deep" in Sennelier, or "Permanent Blue" by Rowney, etc. Happy mixing, -- L

[@MrsWinter1808]

You literally explained this in the simplest way compared to other artists on here. Thank you 😊

[@whitneyroberts294]

I have never truly understood color theory and every color wheel has been so overwhelming to me. Your circles color wheel MADE THE LIGHTBULB COME ON! THANK YOU!!!!!

[@ValeriAnnArts]

Omg, I’ve watched so many videos on mixing and I got nothing from them. But you sir, FINALLY made it sink in. It’s so much simpler than I was trying to make it. You sir are the king of face color mixing.

[@lilycornelio]

I love when artists have a messy palette, it means it’s actively used lol

[@elzaminaaa]

This was sooooo helpful! I’m a beginner and I feel like I have a better grasp on mixing skin tones now. Thank you!!!

[@nirateller5603]

Wonderful tutorial. You helped me a lot. Thank you

[@pyromei]

This video was randomly recommended to me and I'm so glad, because I've been having trouble figuring out how to mix different skin tones and this is super helpful, definitely going to have to sit down and try it all out! Thank you! And your channel and art is beautiful, so glad to have found all this!

[@Finelinernerd]

Hi Mei! Firstly welcome to the channel 🤗 I hope you enjoy playing with your watercolours and I’m so glad you found this useful 🖤🖤

[@BrendaFOBRocks]

ive always had such a hard time explaining this to people and your tutorial condenses it so well! thank you, i can show this to my friends when they ask me about painting skin tones!

[@Finelinernerd]

Hey Brenda! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that you felt this was organised well, it makes it all worth it 🖤🖤🖤

[@latestplague3762]

Best example I've seen yet. Thoroughly explained in a simple way.

[@recycledminis]

Wow, I’m amazed at wow you are able to achieve all these skin tones from primary colors. You also explain what you’re doing so well.

[@studioclarisseluisa]

I just found your videos and I’m instantly in love with them! You explained them so humanly - embracing mistakes and learning from them. You helped me understand why techniques are done a certain way ❤ I only finally understand color theory with how you explained! Thank you for existing ❤

[@SoYeahChrisCrafts]

Ummmm excuse me... you dropped this 👑

[@VioletWisteria]

Out of all of the skin colour mixing videos I’ve watched this is by far the most helpful! ❤

[@Taymrob]

Nobody that I've watched has explained the color wheel so well where I understood. I'm gonna make my own color wheel and see how it goes

[@imchannie6912]

I'm a beginner and I've watched so many skin tone tutorials but yours is the best. Keep it up you did great 😊

[@Finelinernerd]

Hi! What a lovely thing to say, I’m so pleased you found it useful 🤗 let me know if you have any questions when you try this 🖤

[@SanNik9]

I'm in the same boat and I absolutely agree!! It's above the others by a HUGE amount!! 😁👌🎨

[@unripetheberrby6283]

This is probably the best tutorial I've found for making many kinds of shin in for watercolors, it's so helpful. I'm sure many may agree! And you demonstrate many ideas questioning people(like me) think up here! Thank you so much, it seems like such a nice easy technique to learn from!

[@otakupower1048]

Im so excited for this video! I’ve recently gotten back into painting, so this came at the right time. ❤️

[@Finelinernerd]

I’m glad to hear you’re getting back into painting, and I hope you enjoy your journey with it 🖤🖤

[@RumoHasIt]

I know this video is 2 years old, but this was the MOST helpful skintone video Ive found yet, thank you thank you thank you!!

[@craigderry3213]

Really helpful and gives me a great starting point in limiting my (vastly overfilled!) palette. So beautifully explained too. Many thanks

[@stu7610]

That was a really well made video. Benn painting for years and I just make opaque skin tones. Now I can make transparent ones

[@JedaiChocobo]

I have honestly learned more from your videos than I've learned from any watercolor books I've read. Thank you so much for all you've shared❤

[@tinacloud5888]

I have to say that is the best skin tone mixing Tutorial I have ever seen thank you. I have really been Struggling to learn mixing skin tone

[@thejazzpianist25]

Thank you for taking some of the mystery out of skin tone colors, I could cry from gratitude.

[@optimisticambivert]

This video is so beautifully helpful. ❤

[@beccact7051]

Your explanation is so well done. I usually have a hard time understanding peoples tutorials because of the way they explain, but this was just so clean and clear. This really helped out a beginner like me.

[@joeromo8303]

I've just started doing watercolors and I read books, video's, and I've learned so much from your expertise. I know this is old hat for you, but this is just what I needed to fire me up again. TY🤩

[@grittykitty50]

As a person of color and a budding watercolorist, I found this very interesting and valuable.

[@YoureBeautiful4Life]

I've been watching ton of videos on watercolor skintones and this was easily the most helpful. Easy to follow and understand. Clear examples of actual range of skintones. And helpful hints. Bookmarking this for future reference. Thank you!

[@Finelinernerd]

Hey Simone! I’m delighted that you enjoyed it and found it helpful 🖤🖤

[@shariherrington7035]

Absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Betty Hayways brushes. They are all I use for just about everything. ❤️❤️❤️

[@aarigod]

Great work and thanks for featuring my music in your vid 🖤

[@princessumaru4011]

im in the mood for watercoloring skintone, but I also need to learn the color whele! this video is a gem! ty

[@R1_R2]

I appreciate this a lot!!! I just got a new water color pallet, and i wanted to know how to make skin tones!! Thank you!!!

[@novenemanley6483]

You saved me many hours of trial and error. Thank you!!!

[@claucamargos]

Ive watched a bunch of videos about skin tone with watercolor and yours is by far the best. Thank you

[@brightflower144]

Super interesting information! Thank you very much!

[@ItsNybaby]

Just started getting into water color yesterday litteraly . It seems that your channel is one of the best at teaching.

[@spktme]

I'm 2 years late, but this video was just lovely watching all the beautiful colors of skin and the warmth with which you taught us pulled a smile and made me want to go play to find what my palette can do. Thank you for the knowledge and the inspiration! 😊

[@paintingtracey]

Great video thanks

[@ginajennings1664]

This was the best demonstration I have watched on mixing skin tones.

[@rken100]

just after 1min i had to subscribe thankes for the helpful info

[@ronellaubscher8976]

Thank you! This is my first skin tone tutorial and I loved how you simplified it and shown the different swatches based on what we have in our pallets

[@Kruella.A]

Finally someone, who was able to explain me this so easily! ❤️❤️❤️ Thank you very much, it really helped me and saved my time! 🙏

[@HadeerD]

Whenever mixing not-so-basic blue or yellow or red colors.. I imagine these unique colors origins in basic blue:red:yellow ratio.. Like for example I think of cerulean blue as about 4:1:2 ratio of blue:red:yellow, and for Magenta red as 1:4:1 (depending on the magenta hue if more purplish or yellowish there will be different ratios).. so I always keep that in mind when mixing to measure how much I need of basic colors to neutralize or to tone up and down..

[@aprilstark8887]

Finally, someone doing a video just on skin tones! Thank you!

[@jilld8787]

Lovley demo!😎

[@horspiel-junkie5072]

This was such a helpful video!!! You know normally I do my drawings with colored pencils, since I have used them my whole life, but I do like watercolors and try them out whenever I feel like using them. I never really had fun by painting just fruits or landscapes with them so I wanted to do portraits the way i do them with colored pencils. With your video I´m able to do it, since you have shown a wonderful palett and also an easy and cheap way to do it. I ,always thought I need as many colors as i can do draw skin tones, but actually I only need three main colors. I also have to say that I never really knew about the color wheel thing but after you explained it I was like "Well, that´s a cool way actually." Thank you for this video, since there aren´t many of them here explaining it the way you did it here. I think this video is going to help everyone struggeling to find the right color and also thinking they need lots of colors, instead they could use only three. I hope you will do some more videos about watercolor art and also explaining some more of your basic hacks and tipps for beginners or already artists trying to expand their knowlegde

[@denisestover2416]

Good video! I'm a silk painter now, but I began as a watercolorist. When I was doing watercolor portraits one of the recipes I used was: Alizarin Crimson + Yellow Ochre + Ultramarine Blue. These 3 colors were so versatile! Now, because I have to use the CMYK colors due to using dyes on the silk and then steam setting.

[@hinaazad659]

I am amazed the way you've taught. The video is lengthy no doubt, but I would encourage you to take lessons with such details as it helps naive like us to :- 1. Understand the art in true sense. 2. Gives confidence to try myself. 3. Shows scope of experimenting 4. Teaches the topic in some depth giving details of what and why . Thank you so much.

[@rozitasheilarahim8016]

Definitely the best skin tones tutorial on KZbin so far for watercolours and I've seen lots of them. Thank you for this tutorial. 🤗

[@Iknowball422]

Great video!! for mine, it didn't work very well when I mixed red, yellow, and blue, but when I mixed rust with red or pink it worked better

[@zoomzoomer7218]

I love you, you just saved me from ripping all of my art apart

[@pradeepbabu12]

I have seen quite a few videos on skin tones with watercolor, and this is the best video that I have seen!! Thanks a lot!

[@amexjam55]

This is exactly what I was searching for. Finelinernerd your explanations and demonstrations are excellent! Thank you! 👍👍

[@ahmedalneyadi3274]

this is the best tutorial for both water color and skin color that i have ever sow and tried. thank you so much. you made my life easy ^_^

[@tharwatoday4480]

You have simplified this for me. Love the tones. Thank you so much!!!

[@kaitibeeps5887]

wow!!! this was so helpful! thanks!

[@vladkao3125]

I'm beginner in watercolours and that will help me a lot. Just what i needed to learn for mixing skin tones. Thanks for sharing, great video ❤❤❤

[@erenyeager5925]

I was searching for this in whole youtube I checked many channels But you gave me what I want "Thank you "

[@RameshSharma-jv4zg]

Just awesome info about skin tone

[@genericgoth]

this video is literally incredible. how does this not have more views

[@Hooooow343]

Just, i’ve started to learn painting and mixing colours, so I feel satisfied after this video. I mixed an amazing collection of colours🧚🏼 Thanks❤

[@skaffen]

That ultramarine blue on your palette is begging for mercy !

[@arreltidwell7118]

Wonderful visuals & explanations.

[@natlisan]

Great video! I tend to stay away from cerulean in my skin tones as well! I go with transparent/semi-transparent colours for my skin tone mixes. A staple in my palette though is Trans red oxide it's really a beautiful natural red that mixes well with so many other colours to make a wide variety of skin tones.

[@koskey06]

This has helped me alot!! I could get skin tones, but would end up eatting so much paint trying to get to the tone I wasn't because I didn't really know what I was doing.

[@plokerstrom]

Thank-you for explaining this! I have had such a difficult time figuring out skin tones… turns out I just needed to go back to basics!

[@tinom3633]

You are a great at teaching...not just a great artist...very natural and honest .... especially when you laugh ❤️

[@encouragement25]

Brilliant one of the best tutorials on colour mix, simple, well explained and rewarding. Thank you

[@djsaunter]

Informative, easy to follow and well presented 👍

[@christinaleach3586]

This is the best video I’ve seen to help me understand skin tone! Fantastic, thank you!

[@jannahwesam8415]

The award for the best video explaining how to mix skin tone goes to you ♥️♥️✨

[@laurab7931]

Thank you SO MUCH for this great video. I love to paint darker skinned faces in pastel but this has inspired me to go for it in watercolor.

[@Cathrine1Dsmile]

This is the most helpful video I have ever seen on skin tones, thank you!!

[@sparrowhawkerdesigns]

What a great video. Thank you!

[@Bumbles1432]

Thank you for explaining this so well!!!!! I'm excited to try this

[@purplegemcrazyroyal5247]

Best video on skin tones EVER!..

[@stevenweaver3109]

I can’t praise this vid enough. Really clear, excellent info. Thanks

[@ChantelleArts]

Great tutorial 😊

[@lherzog27]

Thanks! Excellent video! I was struggling now I will give this a try!

[@quenchlessmaiden13]

Youre An amazing artist James! And you're adorable! Thanks for the lovely videos 🎉

[@PopleBackyardFarm]

thank you this is helpful I just dug out my paints and I am anxious to get started.

[@Finelinernerd]

Oooh! I hope you have fun playing around! 🖤🖤

[@sandjune2753]

Thank you so much for adding the colour wheel theory

[@108Isabel]

Thank you for this tutorial I had hard time understanding the color wheel in school. This so helpful

[@danielquebedeaux1835]

That was amazing. About to start portraits and that was tremendously helpful

[@someonesomewhere1100]

Whenever I mixed a skintone I always uses this knowledge you taught! But lately I've been using Indian red and yellow ochre, it's an earthy mix lol

[@xVentax]

Well for goodness sake! I’ll dig out my old colour wheel and be able to look at it now with some actual understanding. Thank you. 🙂

[@cthepower]

I absolutely loved your explanation of how to make sure colors. It was the most precise and understandable that I have seen yet. It would make it easy to replicate the results I do have a question. You mentioned that you were testing out a blue color and we’re not at liberty to share it yet, it’s been two years. Are you willing to share now I would prefer to have a non-granulating blue do use in this process. Thank you so much for doing such a lovely job.

[@karenemmerich2572]

So interesting to watch the blending possibilities to make a skin tone. Thanks for sharing!

[@ValleyMermaid]

This was an awesome video!!! I learned A LOT!!! Thank you!!!

[@pinksix5888]

Very nice! Helpful instruction! Thanks for video!