Try this! Watercolor Skin Tones Using BLUE Wet on wet Technique

[@donnagoode6923]

I watched this video this morning. Couple hours later I’m having lunch and I pick up a watercolor book by Mary Whyte, open it at a random page, and the first thing I read is, “several impressionist painters…underpainted skin tones in blue-greens…the optical sensation of two colors together produced a shimmering effect not possible with one color alone. A similar effect is achieved in watercolor by glazing…”. What a coincidence!

[@aliceprofitt8506]

Yes. I was thinking about Mary White’s technique also. So wonderful to have it explained in this video.

[@jonmilstein9869]

Amazing!

[@paulag6439]

Very interesting to watch this! And your daughter (and the painting) are lovely.

[@beedee4427]

This is often how I paint portraits but I mainly paint on homemade watercolour panels. The blue never really goes wrong if you use the right colours over the top and you can pretty much use this approach for any skin colour. Thanks for another fab vid

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Nice to hear another positive experience with blue undertones!

[@glenda7921]

Always learning something from you Emily! Your daughters impish expression was a lovely capture.

[@martyb1006]

Beautiful, Emily! I am so thankful for this tip. It really makes a difference.

[@joykruczay]

Fabulous idea and technique! Sometimes artists use a blue underpainting to establish form, for architectural elements.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yes! It definitely can be used for many different subjects!

[@fuzzydragons]

its a very pretty portrait😀 I tell people all the time when using coloured pencils a layer of light blue pencil will do a lot to make a portrait stand out

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

🙌

[@joanbauman1571]

Great information and watching you mix and paint it is so helpful.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ArtistRebeccaLS]

Totally scared me when I first saw those under paintings 😄 but afterwards it looks fantastic! I never knew about this technique, thanks for promoting it 🙏

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Of course! Love trying new things!

[@stoneyrosestudio3645]

Super tip, I love watching your work come together. Thank you for sharing 👌🏻

[@LizChadertonArt]

I love a blue-green underpainting too - adding a teeny bit of phthalo green to the blue makes a gorgeous colour. Or have you tried a purple underpainting? Especially nice for a darker skin, but with care it works on a Caucasian skin. Such fun!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

OOh I haven't tried purple! Now I must!

[@LizChadertonArt]

@@EmilyOlsonArt I think any cool underpainting adds an amazing depth to the skin tone. The blue is so ethereal

[@ChristinaTodd1970]

Like @Glenda I always learn something good in every video. Thank you.

[@рисование_с_Эллой]

Very beautiful portrait💖👍

[@dbyblair]

This is an excellent tutorial . Your approach with the preparation really gives a layer of blue I had not tried. I’ve done many portraits over the years. And this is truly a great step I will incorporate for my next portrait. Thank you so much!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Awesome! I do hope you’ll give it a try!

[@user-xb1if8ge2n]

Beautiful

[@carollegros6304]

Thanks for the tips. Great portrait.

[@mariem5990]

WOW ! Beautiful painting. Thank you for the video

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

My pleasure!

[@pennyclark9079]

Brilliant!

[@donnagoode6923]

Wow this is very enlightening! Thank you for sharing

[@natlisan]

I always add blue when mixing skin tones, but I've never done an underpainting of blue! may have to try that!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

🙌

[@PeachesandMoss]

How did yours turn out?

[@natlisan]

It actually works pretty well! It really gives the skin a depth and a translucency.

[@aliceprofitt8506]

Thank you! This was so helpful!

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I'm so glad!

[@claraw7976]

Very beautiful and a bunch of good tips yet again. The start with the blue was slightly surprising. When I paint with oil colors I usually start with a rate green though, so blue makes some sense as well.

[@Shuvah2Him]

Excellent!

[@Jw16mosier]

Thank you .. I truly love this it was very helpful . Keep up the great work

[@Belcih]

Perfecto, beautiful ❤

[@sarachauvot7677]

Thanks…I’ve been thinking about this idea lately and wondering if it would work!!

[@dianakoeppel3492]

Thank you!!!

[@elviamunguia8397]

Absolutely beautiful! Blue is my boyfriend ❤

[@stacyerobinson3259]

If a student only had Holbeins , what paint would you recommend for the pthalo and quin?

[@prexytheartist]

That is a nice tip for paler skins! I'm curious that some artists say that for darker skins, red underpainting works good. Have you tried painting like that?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I haven’t tried red! That seems like a commitment, lol!

[@jameshicks6753]

WOW! Very cool!
😊 thanks

[@alexsantiago9594]

My question is, Can I use this same method of light blue shadows for watercolor botanicals?

[@ivyclough8969]

I’m not a new painter… but I cannot get this to work!!!

[@sherylchapman4168]

I don’t know if you will like this. There is a guy named Cuong Nguyen who does a green under painting for his skin tones.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Oh yes I know who he is! He’s amazing! He works mainly with pastel pencils, though I think…

[@shookupartable]

0:25 0:26 0:27

[@818artcreations_nonamccurdy]

Man that was tough. Lol I ended up with a middle aged woman and not a child. Not overworking is so hard.

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

I tend to “age” my kids, too lol. The struggle is real!

[@shubham_M7777]

Mam can you make video on is oil painting, water color, acrylic paint is only way to draw (photo) realistic drawing? Can we draw realistic drawing with other medium? Like oil pastel, colored pencils or sketching?

[@EmilyOlsonArt]

Yes, realism can be achieved in any medium!