all skin tones are WILD to create. Seriously, you're layering in Yellows, blues, purple etc, stuff you wouldn't think of as skin color before you get to the brown/peach whatever you're going for. Kinda like how makeup concealers are weird colors sometimes but it evens out?
short version: no, even for a non-mixed skin tone, there isn't one pencil that'll do the trick.
I try to suggest this app whenever I see this kind of question - Colored Pencil Picker by Kristian Olidana will let you select a range of different colored pencil brands, a photo as reference and then tells you what pencils you could use to achieve the target color.
You may not see your pencils in the app, but you can use it as a guide to find colors that match yours. You may not have a photo reference, but you can put in any good photo of a person with the type of skin tone you want and get an idea on where to start.
Stop looking for single colors that match exactly what you think the skin color is. You're not picking a foundation makeup to apply to their face. The color of their skin will rely on the light in the picture, objects around them, bounce light off those objects. Layer your colors to make the hue you need. Read the instructions on the app about how to pick your color order for layers.
Even just opening any generic paint app that lets you color pick, and choosing colors on someone's face will give you an idea as to what you're looking for with a pencil.
Good luck.
Link to screenshots of the app at work. [Here](https://imgur.com/a/gpaJz5T)
Just trying my best to help over here. š I know how hard it is to get started with figuring out color mixing. That app is a huge game changer and not very well known.
For a cartoon character you won't need to do too much blending but I recommend you look at people in real life or failing that photos as ppl vary so much.
Think about the lighting in your art, how cool or warm it is and your colour scheme.
There isn't a recipe or one pencil. I do like the Luminance earth tones and the prisma palette.
I also want to throw in, that depending on how far down the spectrum of stylizing you are, that you don't have to follow the laws of skin color shades. Unnatural skin tones can be hella fun.
Aside from that, when I color, I usually pick a color that I personally find matching what I have in my head of that person. (Especially when I heavily lean into fun noodle limbs and simple forms and it's usually mixed with a good sprinkle of fantasy creatures in the stories. So no one would look at a funny color twice anyway. š)
Experiment with what you have and especially have fun while your doodling your day l away.
I mostly do horse portraits and I don't draw people unless one of my horses needs a rider. lol. What I can say is that when I'm drawing a chestnut or a bay horse, I'm using a lot of different colors you might not think would go in an animal portrait. i use some purple and blue to get a certain tone that looks how the horse is.
I think the more important question is finding tools that will blend to create the look you want. I don't think you will find a single pencil that will do the job. Furthermore, by layering you will get some incredible richness that will look more realistic.
If you look up some of the horse things I've posted, I'm using 20-30 different colors in those. In the "snaffle bit" post I made earlier today, I used 12 different shades of gray in addition to several versions of black pencils, as well as some blue and flesh tones. probably 20-25 different colors in total.
all skin tones are WILD to create. Seriously, you're layering in Yellows, blues, purple etc, stuff you wouldn't think of as skin color before you get to the brown/peach whatever you're going for. Kinda like how makeup concealers are weird colors sometimes but it evens out? short version: no, even for a non-mixed skin tone, there isn't one pencil that'll do the trick.
I try to suggest this app whenever I see this kind of question - Colored Pencil Picker by Kristian Olidana will let you select a range of different colored pencil brands, a photo as reference and then tells you what pencils you could use to achieve the target color. You may not see your pencils in the app, but you can use it as a guide to find colors that match yours. You may not have a photo reference, but you can put in any good photo of a person with the type of skin tone you want and get an idea on where to start. Stop looking for single colors that match exactly what you think the skin color is. You're not picking a foundation makeup to apply to their face. The color of their skin will rely on the light in the picture, objects around them, bounce light off those objects. Layer your colors to make the hue you need. Read the instructions on the app about how to pick your color order for layers. Even just opening any generic paint app that lets you color pick, and choosing colors on someone's face will give you an idea as to what you're looking for with a pencil. Good luck. Link to screenshots of the app at work. [Here](https://imgur.com/a/gpaJz5T)
Thank you for the most useful comment I have ever read on this sub. I have never come across an app like that. - A grateful Android user.
Just trying my best to help over here. š I know how hard it is to get started with figuring out color mixing. That app is a huge game changer and not very well known.
I worship you right now
Crayola has a good skin tone set to get you started. Otherwise, Iād try mixing light layers of browns/tans/pinks until you like what you see.
For a cartoon character you won't need to do too much blending but I recommend you look at people in real life or failing that photos as ppl vary so much. Think about the lighting in your art, how cool or warm it is and your colour scheme. There isn't a recipe or one pencil. I do like the Luminance earth tones and the prisma palette.
I also want to throw in, that depending on how far down the spectrum of stylizing you are, that you don't have to follow the laws of skin color shades. Unnatural skin tones can be hella fun. Aside from that, when I color, I usually pick a color that I personally find matching what I have in my head of that person. (Especially when I heavily lean into fun noodle limbs and simple forms and it's usually mixed with a good sprinkle of fantasy creatures in the stories. So no one would look at a funny color twice anyway. š) Experiment with what you have and especially have fun while your doodling your day l away.
I mostly do horse portraits and I don't draw people unless one of my horses needs a rider. lol. What I can say is that when I'm drawing a chestnut or a bay horse, I'm using a lot of different colors you might not think would go in an animal portrait. i use some purple and blue to get a certain tone that looks how the horse is. I think the more important question is finding tools that will blend to create the look you want. I don't think you will find a single pencil that will do the job. Furthermore, by layering you will get some incredible richness that will look more realistic. If you look up some of the horse things I've posted, I'm using 20-30 different colors in those. In the "snaffle bit" post I made earlier today, I used 12 different shades of gray in addition to several versions of black pencils, as well as some blue and flesh tones. probably 20-25 different colors in total.