how to start with color

[poyo]

hey all, I've mostly been working on studies in black and white, but I'd like to start with skin tones so I can do colored portrait studies since I feel like I'm progressing well with the anatomy part so far.

there's a million colors to choose from in photoshop, where do I start? should I maybe do a limited palette first to get used to it?

please recommend good videos if you have them.

[JonHop]

generally you could do some colour studies, it doesn't have to be a face or w/e get ref of the skin tone you wish to emulate and create a sphere in photoshop (easy using the circle marque) and then try to replicate the skin colour on the sphere. Or you could do a self portrait. You need to really 'look' at the colours you are trying to emulate, skin in this instance.

Also don't get discouraged if at first your colours begin to get muddy, it'll probably take some practice , i'll just find a video of xia tapatara (not sure if spelling is right, he is the idrawgirls guy) that talks about muddy colours. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8TP3IclXKM check out his channel he is a lot of great stuff and you can learn about skin colour frmo watching his vids also.

***Edit - I just found this as well - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7rrrkpJHLU on skin colour which is by istebrak who is a member of these forums :).

[dirksteele]

I found Lauren K. Cannon's skin palettes/tutorials over on deviantArt great place to start:

Skin tutorials

Give them a try!