Painting Dark Flesh

Here is a step-by-step look at painting a Hasslefree Nubian with Reaper's Master Series Dark Flesh Triad: 09040, 09041, and 09042. I also use Tanned Shadow, 09043; Brown Liner, 09064; Violet Liner, 09114; Antique Rose, 09139; and Burgandy Wine, 09025.

Step One


First I painted a smooth layer of the darkest color, Dark Shadow (09040) on all the fleshy area. This was achieved with 3 layers of 2:1 thinner to paint. Usually, I attempt to achieve about the consistancy of 1% milk with thinned paint.

Step Two


I like to finish the eyes first when I start a model, in case I really screw it up. Eyes can really make or break a model. I began by filling the eye area with an off white paint (RMS Linen White, in this case). I then painted the center of the eye with a dark blue-green paint I don't worry about getting blue-green above or below the eye, or white outside of the eye at this point. Because, after these two steps, I will carefully outline the eye in RMS brown liner. Since I'm using dark flesh for this one, I don't have to worry as much about getting the brown liner around the eye. However, I am very careful not to get it in the white or blue-green areas of the eye.

Step Three


As I had the brown liner out to do the eyes, I went ahead and put lining around the fleshy areas - wherever it met another material, such as the pants, hair, shoes, bracers, and ribbon. I also darkened the armpits and under the breast.

Step Four


I cleaned up the edges a bit from my darklining and then applied the first highlight. I mixed my thinner with the next lightest flesh color, Dark Flesh, about 3:1 and carefully painted raised areas and areas facing the light source (which I placed vaguely in front of her and above her). I paid special attention to the forehead, nose, chin, and breasts, because these are the parts of the body people will notice first. :) This step is actually two or three steps - since the paint is so thin, I had to build it up bit by bit, to get a smooth transition.

Actually, I have a small confession to make at this point - I didn't mix my highlight paint enough the first time around and it started clumping oddly on the model. I had to strip it and start over, but didn't take new pictures until I reached this step - so if anyone's wondering why the eyes are a bit different, or what happened to that funny line on her forehead, now you know.

Step Five


I felt that I had gone a bit overboard in some spots with the Dark Flesh, so I re-shaded a few spots with Dark Shadow.

Step Six


More highlights with thinned Dark Flesh.

Step Seven


Similar to the step above, but with thinned Dark Highlight, and with the paint placed in smaller areas than the dark flesh layer shown above. Some back and forth with all three colors is usually requried during these basic steps - whenever I put a little too much or get wild with the lighter colors, I have to go back over the "edges" of the lighter color with the midtone to blend it smoothly with the color below it. It is very difficult to take pictures as you go with this kind of thing =(

Step Eight


The finishing toches - I mixed about 50/50 dark highlight & tanned shadow to place highlights on her nose, chin, cheekbones, brow ridge, breasts, shoulders, bottom of her tummy, ankles, shoulder blades, elbows, and fingers. Her nipples are a mix of violet liner, dark shadow, and a tiny amount of antique rose. The lips were painted with a similar mix to the nipples, but with a tad more antique rose. This mix is also used to dot the very tips of her nipple.

Step Eleven


Finish the model! This is a very important step.. :) You can see more angles of the model here

I hope this is useful to someone... :)

/ali