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The Secret to Luminous Skin Tones in Oil Painting - The Atelier Newsletter
Published 5 months ago • 3 min read
Ever wonder why some portraits seem to glow from within, while others look flat or lifeless?
That radiance isn’t just about color—it’s about layering. The Old Masters knew how to build skin tones in a way that captured light beneath the surface, and the good news? You can do it too.
Let’s break down this three-step layering method so you can start creating luminous skin tones in your own paintings.
How to Make the Skin Glow Like the Old Masters
A Renaissance-Inspired Layering Method for Luminous Skin
1. Start with a “Dead Color” Underpainting
Before jumping into color, the first step is laying down an underpainting. The Renaissance masters often used a monochromatic base (like a burnt umber or verdaccio layer) to establish light and shadow. Because this layer doesn’t contain a lot of pink or orange, it was often called “Dead Color” Layer.
This thin layer acts like a blueprint for your painting, guiding the later colors, most notably the values.
🔎 Why it works: A paint layer is never fully opaque so this dead color layer will still be somehow visible underneath, influencing the subsequent layers, creating depth that direct color application couldn’t achieve.
▶️ TRY THIS: Use a diluted burnt sienna and ultramarine mix for a grisaille, (optional) add some yellow ochre to create a verdaccio. Keep it thin!
2. Stack Semi-Transparent Colored Layers
Once the underpainting is dry, it’s time to build up over it with thin layers of color. Instead of trying to mix the “perfect” skin tone all at once, you build it gradually—just like skin itself, which has multiple layers that scatter light.
The Old Masters knew about that and named each layer this way:
Underpainting
First Painting
Second Painting
Third etc…
Build thickness progressively, from thin to thick.
🔎 Key trick: Follow the “Thick over Thin” Rule: Each layer can be slightly thicker that the previous ones.
▶️ TRY THIS: Plan ahead: give yourself a certain number of layers and stick to it.
3. Scumbling for the Final Highlights
The last step? Adding the final highlights and refining edges. Be careful: don’t use plain white! Bright highlights should be a warm, creamy mix—think titanium white with a touch of yellow ochre or something else. Pure white can make highlights look chalky. A slightly warm highlight mimics the way real skin catches light.
Impasto Medium is great for the final highlights, use sparingly!
🔎 Key trick: This highlight has to be scumbled and be relatively thick and opaque to create a great skin texture. You can use a small amount of Impasto Medium to emphasize this textural effect.
▶️ TRY THIS: Grab a little bit of Impasto Medium on your brush then, apply highlights sparingly on the forehead, cheekbones, and tip of the nose—then softly feather the edges so they blend naturally into the rest of the face.
Want to Take Your Oil Painting to the Next Level?
If you enjoy these tips and want to truly master classical oil painting techniques, my comprehensive oil painting course is designed for you. From underpainting to final glazes, you’ll learn the step-by-step process used by the great masters—explained in a clear, practical way.
The key to luminous skin isn’t just about color—it’s about how you layer it. By starting with a transparent underpainting, building up delicate color layers, and refining with warm highlights, you can achieve that beautiful, life-like glow seen in master paintings.
Want more tips like this? Join The Atelier Newsletter—where we break down classical techniques in a way that’s practical and actionable.
Free Art Newsletter filled with the best oil painting and drawing tips, directly from the Atelier tradition. Timeless techniques to enjoy weekly to grow and inspire.
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