Palette sequence for flesh tones

When painting flesh tones, many classical artists build the colour gradually using a specific palette sequence.

• It often starts with cool tones like blue going towards green for the shadows, then moves into reds for mid-tones, and finally into yellow ochres and white for the highlights.

This method creates natural-looking skin with depth:

• Cool blues and greens help shape the shadows.

• Warm reds add blood flow and life to the mid-tones.

• Yellow ochre and white bring warmth and light to the top layers and highlights.

Layering in this order mimics the way light moves through real skin—cool in the shadows, warm and glowing in the light.