Mixed Media Society Blog

How to MIX Your Own Watercolor Skin Tones From Scratch LIKE A PRO with Lucy Brydon!

29/9/2023

Hey Mixed Media Society member!! If you've never "met" my Scottish bestie, Lucy Brydon - today, you're in for a HUGE treat!!

Lucy is a stunning artist in my favorite place in the world. She loves painting watercolor portraits, gorgeous gouache animals on wood slices and leather-bound journals, and painting ginormous sculptures around Scotland whenever she has time.

Aren't these phenomenal?!

Lucy also teaches online art classes (For her own art club called Lucy's Art Lab; and the one we co-host together at Awesome Art School called the Celtic Collective). We also co-host an art retreat in Scotland every year at a castle!! In a few short weeks, we'll be Lickleyhead bound (the pretty pink castle behind us below).

If you've never had the privilege of watching one of Lucy's videos - you're going to fall in love with her accent, her artistry, and mad teaching skills!

via GIPHY

Today, I'm thrilled to have Lucy teaching something I don't often have the patience for - mixing watercolors from scratch (instead of using them straight outta the pan like I do!), to create beautiful skin tones for watercolor portraits like this...

Am I the only one dying because not only are we painting with Lucy this week, we're painting a redhead with FRECKLES?!!

I digress... YOU are gonna love how Lucy not only included her lesson videos and reference photo, but she added a 9-page PDF detailing each step of today's lesson with work-in-progress shots - starting with a DRAWING lesson. It's like 2 lessons in 1!!

As always, use whatever YOU have and love, here's what Lucy used:

Supplies

*All Supplies are Affiliate & for UK Residents Only.*

Watercolor paper 300 gsm https://amzn.to/3KW4yF9
A selection of paintbrushes (I use Polina Bright ones like Karen has!)
Pencil https://amzn.to/3YvQIyO
Eraser https://amzn.to/3qnR6CM
Ph Martin Bleed Proof white https://amzn.to/45iq7Y0
Watercolors in the following colors (remember you can substitute for what you already have!!)
- Cerulean Blue https://amzn.to/3KLfhBZ
- Juane Brilliant by Schmincke (or use naples yellow or similar) https://amzn.to/44c82dp
- Alizarin Crimson by Winsor & Newton https://amzn.to/45vBhZu
- Raw Umber https://amzn.to/459gb3y
- Quinacridone Deep Gold https://amzn.to/3Qv2g3a
- Cadmium Orange https://amzn.to/3OYfRPr
- Transparent red oxide https://amzn.to/3YqGdwo
- Transparent Siena https://amzn.to/45a6O3z
- Permanent Brown https://amzn.to/3QGZYhv
- Burnt Umber https://amzn.to/3DT2MRb
- Green Gold https://amzn.to/3YAxQ1A
- Lunar Violet https://amzn.to/3DY41hT
- Yellow Ochre https://amzn.to/3OBdAZ1
- Potters Pink https://amzn.to/3P1slWE
- Prussian Blue https://amzn.to/3QIIqSk
- Mayan Dark Blue https://amzn.to/45h7yEc
- Quinacridone Violet https://amzn.to/3qC1V4b
- Neutral tint (or black) https://amzn.to/3QBlHYc

Phew! Yes, all thos watercolors are for ONE face.

See why I'm lazy?! LOL.

I can barely believe it, but this gorgeous lesson with all these fantabulous colors is also LESS than 1 hour long.

Enjoy!!

Missed the Last New Lesson?

No problem! Please remember, there is NO race to get through all the beautiful lessons in the Mixed Media Society. Tons of students love to skip around and only "art" once in a while, while others prefer to do new lessons as soon as they come out. YOU do whatever feels best for you and your lifestyle :) There's no wrong way to do it!

No matter what camp you fall into, if you didn't do this lesson yet...

*All Product Links Are Affiliate & for U.S. Residents Only.*

I think you'll enjoy it! She may look difficult, but I of course break the project down step-by-step to help you along. Beginners are TOTALLY welcome to give this lesson a shot. Just look at what some of your fellow club members are sharing in the Facebook Group!!

Aren't they beautiful?! I love how everyone puts their own unique spin on lessons :)

This project is kind of the opposite of Lucy's because it teaches MY favorite way of doing watercolor skin tones (straight outta the palette!). I'm using the Complexions Set by Prima. If you don't have this- use whatever you have that looks similar. If you're in the mood to add this to your art supply stash - it runs ~$25 or less on Amazon (U.S.).

Or, paint along to Lucy's lesson above, to learn how to mix your own skin tone watercolors from scratch!!

Two totally different approaches with gorgeous results!

In the Mood for Something Else?

I hear ya!! Click over to the Visual Index for the Mixed Media Society to choose something else that inspires you.

?If you're a FALL person, you might love playing around with fall projects like these...

The first 4 projects above can be found in the "Hot Dog System" Classroom (b/c they use 4 supplies or fewer!). The fall fox in the second row above, can be found in the "Hamburger System" Classroom.

?Ready to get your Halloween on?! You KNOW I've got you! There is an ENTIRE CLASSROOM dedicated to the holidays, which is especially filled with Halloween stuff, because, well, I'm ME, and Halloween is probably my fave!!

?If you're hanging onto every last ounce of sunshine in summer, you might want to jump to the Fun Fab Florals classroom! All of these are excellent if you're looking for a simpler watercolor project for beginners as well.

What Else is Comin' Up?

We'll be moving into MEDIUM skin tones starting on the 15th.

You'll get a lesson from me using the Complexions Set by Prima again, and a medium skin tones lesson from Lucy teaching you how to mix your own skin tones.

Here's a sneak peek at what's comin' YOUR way!!

This one's from me (Karen)...

And from Lucy, below...

So beautiful!!

These are two amazing lessons you won't wanna miss!!

There's no Happy Hour LIVE this month because I'm literally not even in the office for SOOOO many days due to my upcoming art retreat in Scotland with Lucy and some family visiting from out of town.

I promise it will be back on the calendar next month!

And... Lucy and I have a special LIVE planned for you on Halloween!!
Can't wait for that:)

New Member?

Let's help you get settled!

❤️️Here's EVERYTHING You Need to know :)❤️️

That's it for this week!! Happy Art-ing!!