Skin only

[Joan Breckwoldt]

This is a very informative thread, I'm wondering if it started somewhere else? It seems like a continuation from another discussion?

Dear Chris Saper, I just bought your book and it's WONDERFUL!!! I am the kind of person who needs things explained, specifically skin color, and your book is so helpful. I have spent the last 3 days immersed in your book and I have learned so much. I thought I understood about everything you said in your book, but could you elaborate on the following quote from earlier in this thread please:

"I am a big proponent of destaurating colors by adding their complements and/or a neutral of either same or opposing temperatures, but more often the latter. As a result I can't recall a time where I didn't have need for a red-orange-yellow complements. "

I find I am pretty adept at rendering things but I never had much color theory and I have trouble 'seeing' the warm and/or cool colors in skin tone. I have painted a lot from life, but much about color still is still mysterious to me. As I said, your book has helped me so much. I understand graying a color by adding its complement. But wouldn't there be must one complement, not a choice between a cool complement or a warm complement? Isn't the complement the color on the exact opposite of the color wheel? And what do you mean by a red-orange-yellow complement?

Thank you and again, your book has answered so many questions about skin color!!!!

Joan Breckwoldt