Transition..Acrylics to oil..(flesh)

[Wayneb]

Hello Guys,
I need to give my flesh work a boost.I think I'm a little passive and a little too subtle in my work and I need a little help;and I want to make the question and answer simple.
I'm using a base coat on the flesh with a simple sand color with a little red using reaper and Vellejo acrylics;trying to base coat with a natural (coffee w/cream) color.
What I'm looking for is a basic mix with oils for.....................
Highlights...and shading.........
Not looking for all the different brands of oils...........(have many);..Just a simplified mix of what it takes to shade and highlight using oil on acrylic.
Just have a feeling that blending the oils will give better transitions and more control with painting the face....By the way;I'm only doing busts for the time being..............
Hope I made this question as simple as possible and maybe you can read between the lines...........Best regards and thanks in advance for any help........................Wayne

 

[housecarl]

This is quite good Wayne.
Carl.

 

[Wayneb]

Thanks Carl,
My question was written in somewhat of a bit of haste because my computer keeps shutting down for no known reason.....Spent 20 min. the other day writing to someone only to have it shut down and erase it all.
Thanks again...................Wayne

 

[housecarl]

I hope it went someway to answering it Wayne.
All the best,
Carl.

 

[Einion]

What I'm looking for is a basic mix with oils for.....................
Highlights...and shading.........
Not looking for all the different brands of oils...........(have many);..Just a simplified mix of what it takes to shade and highlight using oil on acrylic.

Think this post from 2006 should help Wayne. Gives some basic mix suggestions as you're looking for but with some additional information, including what to avoid/be careful with.

Re. your undercoat:

I'm using a base coat on the flesh with a simple sand color with a little red using reaper and Vellejo acrylics;trying to base coat with a natural (coffee w/cream) color.

Adding the red is a good idea here, because sand is far too yellow for normal skin. But a coffee & cream colour may still not be the easiest colour to work over thinly in oils.

If you do enough painting on top the undercoat colour doesn't actually matter, but to make things easier I'd aim for something a little closer to your final midtone - so something like a mid-value dull peach.

Einion

 

[Wayneb]

Thanks Einion,
Your suggested post was well read and it makes me realise what a vague question I asked.So I will use the suggestions and experiment.I'm not sure there is any cut and dry formula out there as everyones taste differ.I will just take bits and pieces of all suggestions and hope to find my own combination...............Your advise is always appreciated..................Best Regards............Wayne

 

[Einion]

...makes me realise what a vague question I asked.

It was fine, you have to start somewhere

I'm not sure there is any cut and dry formula out there as everyones taste differ.

Absolutely. I think I've mentioned this here on pF before - you could find two portrait artists where every single paint they use is different from the other painter's, including the white. But even so their results could be quite similar. This shows how much the actual palette doesn't matter; as long as whatever paints are used have the required colour range (the gamut).

Since you already have a lot of oils you don't have to limit yourself to any one formula, just start with a yellow, a red and white and go from there. This is the basic way to mix most fleshtones to allow for the natural variation in hue from one area to the next, from one person to the next. Then all you need is something to dull the mix down somewhat, as much or as little as needed.

Einion

 

[Gra30]

Hi Wayne
My palette is very simple
The basic flesh, which I apply over Andrea flesh is a mix of titanium white, yellow ochre and red.
I mix that in the centre of my Pallette and on one side working out I gradually add more white until I have a rainbow effect building up to this lightest highlight colour.
On the other side , again working out, I mix burnt sienna with the flesh building to almost pure sienna and last adding burnt umber.
This give me all the range of base, shades and highlights for the face. This pic may explain better and was used on the Sapper.
Of course other colours can be used and I am going to try some grey tones at some point to bring a bit more chalky appearance. This was just to give a simple basic flesh colour that works ok. The RHA officer was the exact same mix with more extreme highlights as it is 54mm, moustache only undercoated
Best wishes
Gra


Sent from my iPhone

View attachment 121194

 

[housecarl]

Good stuff Gra.
This is very good book.
Full of various skin, hair and eyes colours.
Dirt cheap too,
Carl.

 

[Gra30]

)
That's a great book
Cheers Carl, definately worth a look mate and will come in very useful.
I am a bit of the devil you know bloke so need to take the plunge sometimes away from my norm.
All the best

 

[Einion]

Of course other colours can be used and I am going to try some grey tones at some point to bring a bit more chalky appearance.

Don't just consider greys for a chalky look, the halftones on flesh are often far duller (i.e. greyer) than we give them credit for. This is why many portrait painters have a few premixed 'neutrals' (greys or near-greys, depending on their taste) on the palette alongside all the more colourful flesh mixes they prepare.

This is very good book.

That is very worthwhile, particularly at those sorts of prices, but wanted to post this same caveat from a previous thread.

Einion

 

[Wayneb]

Thanks guys for the responses and help and also the older posts which are quite good.
Just got back from buying both books on color mixing;One for basic mixing recipes and the one for portraits.....$12.00 for both.Can't beat that.
Also Gra;...what is that piece on top of your name?Is that a full piece or bust............like the face.
Thanks again for all the tips and info..............Wayne

 

[Gra30]

Hi Wayne
My avatar is the same face as posted on the above post, 75mm Sapper by Romeo Models
All the best