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View Full Version : Problem with waxy skin...

DemonSaya
04-24-2008, 06:00 PM
Admittedly, I'm a n00b in the realm of digital painting (or any painting for that matter). I've done several 'realism' paintings, but the skin always winds up looking horribly waxy. I don't know if it's the technique I use, or the pallette, or just not using the right brushes, but it's driving me nuts! The problem isn't the face so much as large expanses of exposed skin. Please help!

Examples:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b256/Demonsaya/Chrnoprev.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b256/Demonsaya/orenokensm.jpg
Lunatique
04-24-2008, 10:28 PM
Your problem appears to be caused by two issues:

1) Your brushwork/rendering skill isn't quite there. Regardless of whether an artist renders loosely or tightly, the brushwork has to have a sense of naturalness and confidence. Right now you are still trying to figure out how to get it to look natural.

2) Your understanding of how skin reflects light is still not advanced enough. You should look at more references and observe people in real life, not simply basing your image on one particular photo reference. Skin can be very reflective at times, and you need to know where those reflective angles are in your image. Also, different areas of the skin have different levels of oil or moisture (nose, forehead, lips), and different areas have the skin pulled tighter or looser (clavicles, elbows, thighs, knees...etc). Skin can also have varying amount of roughness/texture (knuckles, elbows, knees, pores on face...etc)
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04-24-2008, 10:28 PM
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