How to Layer & Blend Smooth Skin Tone with COLORED PENCIL? Live Tutorial, by BMD Portraits on YouTube. 4 min 41 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 41 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Sketch the face lightly with a pale pencil so the outline stays soft. Keep the pressure very light so the lines do not dent the paper.
Pick three tones for the skin: a light base, a mid tone and a darker shadow color. Test them on scrap paper first to check how they sit together.
Fill the whole skin area with the lightest tone using small circular strokes. Keep the pressure even and stop before the color looks shiny.
Add the mid tone over the shaded areas such as the cheeks, nose sides and jawline. Use light pressure and let the first layer show through.
Place the darkest tone only in the deepest shadows, like under the chin and beside the nose. Build it slowly in several passes rather than pressing hard once.
Go over the layers with a colorless blender pencil or a blending stump. Work in small circles and follow the shape of the face.
Add a thin layer of the light tone back over the blended areas to bring back warmth. Blend again lightly to soften any edges.
Lift any mistakes with a kneaded eraser by dabbing, not rubbing. Then re-layer the color gently over the cleaned spot.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your pencils sharp and use light pressure, since heavy strokes crush the paper tooth and make smooth blending impossible.
Blend one small area at a time so the pencil does not cool and set before you finish.
Layer light to dark, because dark color laid first is very hard to lighten later.
Test each new color on spare paper before adding it to the face.
Questions
Can I blend colored pencils without a colorless blender?
Yes. A blending stump, a cotton bud or a soft white pencil can soften the layers. A colorless blender gives the smoothest result but is not essential.
Why does my skin tone look patchy?
Patchiness usually comes from pressing too hard or skipping the light base layer. Build thin layers with light pressure and blend between each one.
Which paper works best for smooth skin tones?
Smooth or hot press paper suits fine blending better than rough watercolor paper. Bristol board is a common choice for portrait work.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
