Painting Skin Tones and the Importance of Color Temperature

Painting skin tones is one of the most challenging aspects in painting. In part, because (with skin of our own) we often have a certain idea of what a skin tone color is and what it looks like. However, when you closely observe the flesh tones of the subject you are painting, you will notice a vast variety of elements (and different colors) that actually exist.

One of the most important aspects you need to consider when it comes to painting skin tones, is color temperature. As color temperature plays a prominent role in defining the specific colors (and values) you will need to mix for your subject’s skin. Let’s get started by touching on the truth about what colors you need for painting skin tones.

What colors make up skin tones?

The truth is, there really is no such thing as a specific ‘skin color’. Reason being, is that skin is an organic surface and therefore its local color changes throughout, as the degree of light on the surface changes.

Of course you can learn how to mix different skin tone colors once you understand the colors you need. However first you need to know how to look at and breakdown your subject by the actual temperatures and values that are present. For example, you might have dark/cool colors in one area and light warm colors in another. Continual changes in color temperature are what make painting skin tones so challenging and exciting!

Color temperatures of skin tones

Below we have a diagram highlighting various color temperatures present in the skin tones of the painting, featuring Hans Holbein’s Portrait of Robert Cheseman.

The painting is a great example of how to paint skin tones with a classical order of light in its tonal value and color shading. You will see how the temperature varies as the light moves from light to dark. The real warmth in the painting occurs in the light halftone and the skin cools significantly in the dark halftone.

Classical order of color temperature

The diagram above illustrates the classical ordering of how color temperature looks in a portrait painting. This is how light behaves in a typical north light scenario – therefore you see this very same pattern of color temperature in all of western art.

A very similar pattern of color temperature can be seen in many different classical paintings. As they were painted in cool north facing light – typical of Western artists studios. The diagram is not meant as a formula but rather to get a foothold in understanding how colors change. As well as how color temperature works when painting skin tones and flesh.

Apply order of color temperature to your own work

Color temperature (of skin tones) in paintings examples

Below is a diagram of a detail from, ‘Portrait of a Man’ by Velazquez. In the close up of the forehead area, you can see how the colors and temperatures shift as the light moves across the surface.

The more you look for these breakdowns in color temperature shifts. The easier it will become to recognize them. Applying these shifts will help you create truly realistic looking skin tones.

Let’s look at another example, of a subject that contains darker skin tones.

Color temperature in darker colors

Color temperature reacts the same no matter if you are painting dark or light skin tones. Below is an example of a painting done with darker skin colors – Juan de Pareja by Velazquez. You can see in the detail of the nose how the same pattern of color temperature can be seen.

Cadmium orange, burnt sienna, white and ultramarine blue (as a complementary color) is a good basic base. You will use more or less of some of the colors depending on how dark or light a skin tone is.

Next steps…

There is an extraordinary amount of nuance involved in mixing skin tone colors. What I outline here is just a starting point. If you want to take things further, then I recommend learning more about how color works – this way you can get outside of typical color mixtures and get much more precise with painting skin tones.

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