
This is the secret to using unrealistic colors as skin tones: focus on the
tone first, the color second (if at all). Don't believe me? Then take a look at the greens and blues used as 'skin' colors in
this self portrait by the Expressionist painter Karl Schmidt-Rottluff. Squint so you see the tones better, then have another look at the colors he's used.
Read more...

If you're an artist who uses acrylics, lives in any of these places in the USA -- Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Washington, DC; the Capital Region of NY; the state of Louisiana -- and wants another string to your bow, then before the 1st of March, take a look at the
the recruitment ad for the Working Artists program of Golden Artist Colors, Inc. It involves doing presentations and workshops featuring Golden's products (obviously) and you'll get training at Golden's expense.
Details here...
The photo shows the bag of goodies everyone got at the Golden presentation I went to
back in 2008. I came away with my brain bursting with info about acrylic mediums, some of which I've tried and others not. Or rather, not yet.
Photo © Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc
A new
Painting Photos Challenge has been posted. This time it features a
photo of a plum ripening on a branch. The sun is creating some complicated
cast and form shadows, so you might want to apply
artistic license to the weather or time of day to adapt the
direction of the sun.
See Also:
How to Paint Shadows
Landscape Painting: Where is the Sun?