Category: Watercolor Portrait Lessons

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!!

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How to Create GORGEOUS Light Skin Tones Use the Complexions Watercolor Set by Prima

6/9/2023

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Hi Mixed Media Society Club Member!!

I hope you're having a Fab weekend! Ready to leave the world of painting with Tombows behind to move into watercolors? I ALWAYS love a good excuse to get my watercolors out and am super excited!!

Here is the beauty we'll be creating today...

*All product links are affiliate and for U.S. residents only.*

I LOVE how she turned out, and hope you do too!

If you've been following me for a while, you likely already know that I kinda hate mixing my own skin tones in watercolor. And ever since I reviewed the Prima Complexions watercolor palette back in 2019 on YouTube - I've been using this set almost exclusively whenever I'm in the mood to create watercolor portraits.

Some people love mixing their own skin tones, but I feel like it takes too long and there's too much guesswork involved. I'd much rather dip my brush into a color that already exists, and know with confidence what's going to appear on my paper EVERY TIME. Hence, why I fell in love with the Complexions Watercolor Palette by Prima.

Over the next few weeks, in the Skin Tones classroom, I'll show ya step-by-step how to use this palette to achieve beautiful skin tones in light, medium and dark just by using these 12 colors!

If you're someone who LOVES mixing her own skin tones - hang tight, because I've got a plan FOR YOU! My Scottish bestie, Lucy Brydon, is a fantastic watercolorist. And she love, love, LOVES mixing her own skin tones! Over the next few weeks, she will be joining me as a guest teacher in the Mixed Media Society to teach you her best tips and tricks for creating skin tones from scratch!

By having lessons from both of us on this topic, you'll get to explore what YOU like best from these two, totally different perspectives!

As I always, say, please don't feel pressured to go out and buy the supplies I'm using. Use whatever you have on hand. If you can swing ~$25 for the Complexions set, you might want to, especially if you feel like you're in the camp of preferring convenient skin tones right outta the pan :)

Just remember Prima watercolors (any of their sets) are NOT lightfast or a fine-art supply. But for something that's "less" than a fine-art supply, the quality and price point can't be beat, in my opinion.

Supplies

Mechanical Pencil 0.7 from this adorable new inexpensive set https://amzn.to/3OW5YBL

My long and skinny Swatching Journal https://amzn.to/3nWGvYT

Empty watercolor palette https://amzn.to/3pzhyDr

Complexion Set by Prima https://amzn.to/45upKdu

Arches 9" x 12" cold press watercolor paper https://amzn.to/47V3I50

Polina Bright Watercolor Brushes https://www.polinabright.com/karencampbell and use coupon code KARENCAMPBELL to save 10% off your order

For Super Affordable and awesome Creative Mark WATERCOLOR Brushes https://amzn.to/3gCZWRZ

Pentel Arts Sign Pen w/ Micro Brush https://amzn.to/3JhAjZ2

Copic Opaque Paint with Brush https://amzn.to/3Dfr1ZW

Assorted Watercolor Pencils in Blue, Black and Terra Cotta

Daniel Smith Carb Violet https://amzn.to/45NVKsH

And just for funsies... in the video, I mention there are some colors by Daniel Smith that I've also used on occasion (right outta the tube!) to depict skin tones. Here are those colors:

Verona Gold https://amzn.to/3C0w8u4

Yellow Gold https://amzn.to/3P3Gy4a

Italian Deep Ochre https://amzn.to/45MQCVD

Roasted French Ochre https://amzn.to/45FLS4i

Raw Sienna https://amzn.to/45xaXi8

Burnt Umber https://amzn.to/3KXKfqL

👉Let's get started!

Haven't Had Time to Art Lately?

The summer has been crazy for me too!! I get it!! There are TONS of beautiful projects in the Skin Tones Classroom just waiting for you!

We started off the summer by exploring how to create skin tones using acrylic paints and a wet-on-dry technique with these projects....

Then we learned about watercolor markers (specifically, Tombows), and how these can create beautiful skin tones as well.

So many awesome choices, right?! I hope you have just as much fun with these as I did!!

In the Mood for Something Else?

Make sure you check out the Visual Index HERE.

Whether the leaves are starting to turn in your part of the world, or it's hot as crap like it is in North Carolina - you can IMAGINE welcoming the impending season of fall and WILL the weather to change creatively!! The first 4 projects below can be found in the "Hot Dog System" Classroom (b/c they use 4 supplies or fewer!).

The fall fox above, can be found in the "Hamburger System" Classroom.

As we get closer to Halloween, you KNOW I'll be sharing projects to get you in the mood for the creepy season and to help you deck the walls if that's something you love to do!! Keep your eyes peeled ....

What Else is Comin' Up?

New Member?

Let's help you get settled!

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

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

0 Comments

Mixed Media Society
Blog

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

Supplies

Missed the Last New Lesson?

In the Mood for Something Else?

What Else is Comin' Up?

New Member?

How to Create GORGEOUS Light Skin Tones Use the Complexions Watercolor Set by Prima

Supplies

Haven't Had Time to Art Lately?

In the Mood for Something Else?

What Else is Comin' Up?

New Member?

Author

Archives

Categories

What Fans Are Saying

Contact ME

Mixed Media SocietyBlog

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

Supplies

​Missed the Last New Lesson?

​In the Mood for Something Else?

​What Else is Comin' Up?

New Member?

How to Create GORGEOUS Light Skin Tones Use the Complexions Watercolor Set by Prima

Supplies

Haven't Had Time to Art Lately?

In the Mood for Something Else?

​What Else is Comin' Up?​

New Member?

Author

Archives

Categories

What Fans Are Saying

Contact ME

Mixed Media Society
Blog

Missed the Last New Lesson?

In the Mood for Something Else?

What Else is Comin' Up?

What Else is Comin' Up?