Lesson 5: Capturing Warm Tones in the Mane and Mastering Color Mixing for Highlights

In Lesson 5, we’re delving into mixing warm colors without them getting chalky. This lesson covers mixing warm reds and oranges, as well as tips on simplifying hair so you don’t feel like you have to paint in every single strand of hair.

Watch my MasterDemo to learn more.

Building a Foundation 

As always, I start by mixing my shadows. For a mane like this one, I only need Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson, and French Ultramarine - a simple combination, but it’s the perfect base for the roots of the hair. This color will also compliment all of the highlights that we’ll layer on top later.

Simplifying Midtones

Trying to parse detailed areas like the mane is where the technique of treating your reference like a paint-by-number will particularly come in handy - you need to be able to simplify all the individual hairs down into large shapes. I challenge myself to mix one shadow, one midtone, and one highlight for the entirety of the mane. Squinting can help you filter out the noise and find the right mid-tone for the area you’re looking at. 

Capturing the Highlights

Next, we move to the most exciting part, at least for me—the highlights that give the mane its signature glow. I keep this part simple, selecting only a couple of lighter tones to prevent over-complication.

These highlights serve as punctuation in our piece, capturing the light as it hits the top of the mane. I like to try and lift the value of my highlights with colors other than white; Titanium White can be chalky if it’s the only color you’re relying on to lighten value. Don’t be afraid to reach for other lighter colors on your palette first, to see if they’ll do the trick.

Embracing Imperfections and Letting the Colors Speak

One of the best parts of painting a tousled mane is playing with direction and flow in regards to your brushstrokes. Resist the urge to add too much detail to each hair, instead allowing the broader strokes to suggest the mane’s shape and movement. 

This painting process is not about accuracy alone—it’s about evoking a feeling, and inviting the viewer to fill in those tantalizing details that we the artist merely suggested with our brushwork.

Watch my MasterDemo to learn more.