How to Paint Skin Tones

Library Journal

Painting skin color in any realistic way is one of the most subtle and difficult tasks for any beginning artist. The traditional study of the early masters of portraiture limits the student, for the most part, to European Caucasians. Horton explores the full range of color differences among races and within races, from the smoothest young skin to the wrinkled marks of age. This book uses comprehensive charts and photographs to ground the student in mixing color in oils, acrylics, watercolors, and pastels. Subtleties of reflected color, hair color, and differences in exterior and interior lighting are all considered. Horton rounds out his very successful manual with examples of several artists' approaches to this daunting subject. This book should be in every art collection.