What's the best pencil for skin tones

[playingwpaper]

I've spent 12 years trying to find out what other people see in stamping and have a loft full of "maybe this will make me like it" buys, stamps, pens, powders, inks etc but nothing has yet. I've just bought a few Tildas and touch wood I'm starting to see the appeal but I cant for the life of me find a colour I like for skin. I'm tempted to go straight for the full set of prismas but it's a lot to spend and then find myself still not enjoying stamps.

So, if you had to chose one pencil for skin tones which one would it be?

[Pink Chocolate]

in the Derwent Watercolours there is one called flesh pink which is what i use then i add a touch of pinky highlights to the cheeks for a glow

in the derwent pastels there is a similar colour which i use

in the prismas i have not long add them and are ashamed to say i am still sharpening them all ready for use lol

[elaine2013]

In Prismas I generally use Light Peach (PC927) first, then I use Peach (PC939) for areas where I want shading/around the edges, and Blush Pink (PC928) for rosy cheeks.

[Pink Chocolate]

i have prismas but i dislike they tend to come all mixed up, theyjust seem like a set thats been dropped on the floor and then put back in any old how

[elaine2013]

i have prismas but i dislike they tend to come all mixed up, theyjust seem like a set thats been dropped on the floor and then put back in any old how

Yeah that was annoying, had to spend some time putting them into colour families while sharpening them.

[babyfairy]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can someone explain what Prismas and stumps are. I've asked lots of times and never got an answer.

[elaine2013]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can someone explain what Prismas and stumps are. I've asked lots of times and never got an answer.

Prismacolors are a brand of coloured pencil available in the US. They can be used with artist grade mineral spirits (one brand name in the US is Gamsol, over here in the UK there is Sansodor or Zest-It Pencil Blend), and paper blending stumps.

You wet the end of the stump with Sansodor/Zest-It, and use the stump to move the colour from the pencil around on the paper.

Inge has a great tutorial with photos here.

[Barchris]

Faber-Castell do a Light Flesh and a Medium Flesh in their Polychromos - and a lot of shops sell the Faber-Castell Polychromos separately so no need to buy all the colours just to get the Flesh colour ones.

[babyfairy]

Thank you for the answer. Now what makes them better than watercolours?

[elaine2013]

Thank you for the answer. Now what makes them better than watercolours?

They aren't necessarily better than watercolours, it just depends on what you want to do and what you find a preference for. I still use watercolour pencils, just not as much. I find that I prefer working with the prismas and blending stumps, and that the colour I get is more vibrant. Personally I tend to find it easier working with prismas and blending stumps, but that may just be me.

[Pink Chocolate]

i started with watercolours and although i too still like them i also love working with the prismas in the short space of time that i have had them (only a few days lol) i also find them more vibrant too

[babyfairy]

Hmmmm I feel a sudden need to shop!!

[playingwpaper]

Thanks ladies, just back from the Farnborough show and I still have a few pennies to spend so I think a trip to the art supply shop tomorrow will be top of my to do list. Hubby has some of the faber castell pastels so I'll have a raid and see how I get on with them as well.