What Colour(mix) To Use For Beard On Face With Oils

[renegertje]

What colour should i use to get the look of an unshaved face (three day beard) with oils. I normally use the face base color with a little blue. But the result is not that what i would like to see. Any suggestions???

Thanks,
René

 

[megroot]

I think you got go for a very dark brown.
I always go for a raw umber with a little touch of red just like a good Bordaux wine. You can use some black with red, as long at is the color of the wine.
I had a go with VanDyck Brown.......give's a good effect eather.

marc

 

[Helm]

I use a very thinned out black mixed with the flesh tone with both enamels and acrylics,not sure if it'll work with oils

Steve

 

[Carlos69]

Rene I use Oxide of Chromium(shade of green)and a little Raw umber mixed or substitute the RU for Ivoury black.
(Both W/Newton Artists Oils)

I apply as very thin filters when the face is finished and dry.I build it up
In many layers...

Carlos

 

[renegertje]

Marc, Steve and Carlos,
Thanks for the comments. I start next week to try it out. I always thought that it was a blue-ish (is that correct english???) shade.
I will try it out on an old figure.
It's so good that there is PF.
keep the good work going

 

[Einion]

I always thought that it was a blue-ish (is that correct english???) shade.

If the person has dark enough hair, and the skin is not too tanned or naturally dark, shaved areas can look as though they're blueish but this is an illusion usually. This kind of beard shadow is just very grey, and against the skin colour it looks more blue than it is (an effect called simultaneous contrast).

For this reason I would steer clear of using a blue for beard shadow, it's too easy for the colour to go a touch too far and actually end up blue... that is unless that's the effect you're aiming for; personal preference > realism.

I would suggest mixing for the finished colour by adding black to the basic flesh mix, with a dab of dark brown or a little extra red.

Another thing to bear in mind is to check the blend against the face regularly as you mix - it's very easy to have a mix that looks perfect on the palette but is far too dark on the model!

Einion

 

[Blue Thunder]

You see René, there will be many options and opinions. And I am pretty sure all are the most welcome even if we all around can say an incredible array of options I red the opinions above from fellow members, now here's mine and also different:


Paynes Gray out of the tube. Here's my latest, where only the face is ready:

Hope it helps. For me it's pretty easy and the results are, in my opinion only, nicely looking!

 

[Gary D]

I also use WN Paynes Grey right out of the tube for my 5:00 shadow. I apply it after the face has had a chance to dry for about a week. Lightly stipple it on. You can always add more to different areas as you go along.

Gary

 

[Einion]

Here's my latest, where only the face is ready:

Is the hair finished? Reason I ask is blonde hair = ?? beard shadow colour...

Einion

 

[Blue Thunder]

Einion, what I am going to try to say is a little tricky to understand through a screen. Wish me luck


You see, normally regardless of hair color, the male face develop a greyish veil in the bottom face at first hours after shaving.


For example here is well known actor Brad Pitt. Check his "five o'clock shading". As you are noticing it is not a "blond veil", let's say this way, but a greyish tone developing in the bottom face.

Well I can suggest too to dig for color photographs of famous blonde guys. Let's say Paul Newman, James Dean, James Hunt and so on ...


But, as this can be a surprise at first glance, may I just say that is not so much that as it first seams. Let's think what color do we normally associate a jarhead guy


As a matter of fact, it doesn't even have to be a guy. Here is well known actress Cameron Diaz shortly after her famous scene in the movie "My Sister's Keeper":

And look what shade her head developed



Hope it helps.

 

[renegertje]

Guys, The confusion was complete.So many ways to achieve a colour shade. But after reading all the replies on my question i'm confinced.
Paynes Gray it will be. That's the colour i was looking for.
Many thanks fot all the good tips and tricks.
I am very happy to be a member of this planet

 

[Einion]

You see, normally regardless of hair color, the male face develop a greyish veil in the bottom face at first hours after shaving.

It is expressly dependent on hair colour, that's my point - what we're seeing is an optical mix of tips of the hairs and the background skin colour, so obviously it has to depend on the colour of the hair.

None of the actors you mention are blonde blondes. That's why I asked if the hair was finished, because he does look like a full-on blonde, which would typically be linked to lighter-coloured facial hair (even a blonde beard if the man is younger).

If you look at very blonde men - light eyebrows, no brownish hair underneath the blonde locks - they'll generally have barely-visible 5 o'clock shadow; where the beard is a darker shade, reddish-brown or gingery (see Robert Redford for example) the shadow colour is tinted that way.

As a matter of fact, it doesn't even have to be a guy. Here is well known actress Cameron Diaz...

Cameron Diaz is about as blonde as Madonna

Einion

 

[maschinist]

hy friends
try violet (purple) and bohemian earth (green tone), that gives the real colour of three day´s beard.

leopold

 

[Paul Kernan]

Maybe Madonna, but Cameron Diaz????......a 5 o'clock shadow!

 

[Blue Thunder]

Roflemao Paul!



Well, since we are talking about Mr. Redford at least there will be here enough references for future generations of users to amuse these moments:

How many more blonds will be needed?


In the meantime, Renegertje, I sincerely hope you can make a great looking figure! That's all that matters!

​

 

[renegertje]

fellow painters, it is super to see so many feedback. I will go on the internet, and try to see a lot of pictures of faces. so i will have an impression of the many shades possible.
Thanks a lot everybody for the good hints.