Colouring Pencil Skin Tone Guide

8. Deep Dark Skin Tones

My two deep dark skin tones are olive and cool deep dark/“purple”:


This time you might need 5 pencils (base, main, mid-tone, shadow) including a black or dark blue pencil for even darker shadows. Press fairly hard throughout:

  1. Apply your base - Apply the base but with average pressure. Try using an unconventional colour such as green, red or lilac.
  2. Add shadows - Use a black or dark blue pencil in the darkest areas, using a fairly hard pressure and lighter pressure as you move further away.
  3. Apply the mid-tone - Apply your main the same way you did the shadow - same areas and same pressure.
  4. Apply the main colour - Apply the main colour throughout - hard pressure in the shadows, average in the main areas and highlight areas.
  5. Re-apply any colours that look weakened - Starting from darkest to lightest, re-apply the colours using average to hard pressure.
  6. Blend with base colour - Removes patchiness and establishes the colour of your highlight which should be your main colour with hints of the base.
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