Skin Tone - Tumblr Posts
Selflou - flou de moi.
can you give a run down on skintones?
PART ONE: COLOR SELECTION.
In painting skin tones, a lot of the time I see people choose colors that are over-saturated or unbalanced. There isn’t really an exact art to this that I can explain—you just need to get a feel for what saturation balance you need for that particular skintone. Here are some examples of what I usually pick.
As you can see, I used different base colors (orange, reddish, yellow) for the skin shades in all three examples. The reason for this is because all skin tones have a different base color besides just Light, Medium, and dark. Some people divide them into categories of “warm” and “cool.” Pantone has some really good examples and references for this.
PART TWO: COLOR VARIATION.
Another big part about drawing and painting skin tones that a lot of people forget is how skin thickness affects color variation. The presence of bone, blood, and muscle underneath the skin affects its colors. This is especially noticeable on the face.
The colors here are a little exaggerated to show my point, but with a little adjusting and blending…
Voila! Subtle, but more realistic.
PART THREE: DETAILS.
Our skin is the largest organ on our body, and as our body’s first line of defense against the outside world, it’ll be covered with tiny details and imperfections. Things like sunburns, tans, freckles, scars, and facial hair all add character to your subject matter. Here are some examples!
TANS: Everyone tans differently, depending on your ethnicity and skin tone. Fair skinned folks tend to burn more than tan, which means you’ll need a more startling, eye-catching red.If you have a skin type that tends to tan more, the color will be more brown than red. For black skin tones, the tan is less red. (And while we’re on the subject: black people DO tan, so it’s important for you to put on sunscreen and be careful in the sun, too.)
Those are the areas that the sun tends to hit the most—and things like goggles, hats, and masks can change the shape of that area.
FRECKLES AND MOLES: Freckles are also products of the sun. Some people have freckles that stay year-round, while others have freckles that fade in the winter and return in the summer. Moles are skin cells that grow in a cluster instead of being spread throughout the skin. When exposed to the sun, they tend to darken. (Another note on skin health: if you have any oddly-shaped/colored moles, moles that have changed color, size, or shape, or anything of the sort, please check with your doctor!)
Freckles like to cluster around each other, sort of like stars, and they vary greatly in size. You can have a few freckles in one place, or a lot of freckles in multiple places. Most commonly freckled areas are your face, shoulders and neck, back, and forearms.
FACIAL HAIR: Facial hair also affects the colors of the face. For simplicity’s sake we’ll be using black hair, as it is the most noticeable. Facial hair usually grows in these areas, and can make the skin look blueish/grayish because of the darker hairs beneath the skin. If your hair is red, this also very noticeable.
END NOTE.
There you go! That’s about all I can think of at the moment for skin tones. As always, references and practice are your best friend (and so is this neat little trick that pheberoni has.) Good luck with your arting!
the image is from an article on skin color measurement in regards to oximetry readings, it was the best I could find as far as having a decent range but a small enough number to fit in a poll
This is simply brilliant! I rarely create art nowadays, but if I do so later, I'll know where to find the perfect color palette! 💗
Was too fun to make.
As an artist, I hate you why are you like 4 different skintones. WHY DOES THE PROMOTIONAL ART EITHER WHITEWASH YOU OR MAKE YOU TAN AS SHIT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU DONT LOOK LIKE YOU IN SHOW
Describing Skin Colors
Having trouble finding synonyms for ‘white’, ‘black’, ‘tan’, etc? Have any clear idea what tone you’re going for? Here’s some web pages for skin tone description and references:
Words Used To Describe Skin Color
Handy Words for Skin Tone (Includes palettes and comparisons)
Describing Characters of Color
More Tone Synonyms w/ Pictures
7 Offensive Mistakes Writers Make (includes more than just skin color)
Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone
We discussed the issue of describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of “So, if food’s not an option, what can I use?” Well, I was just getting to that!
This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions we’ve received on this topic.
So let’s get to it.
S T A N D A R D D E S C R I P T I O N
B a s i c C o l o r s
Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.
"She had brown skin.”
This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become cliché.
Describing characters’ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though it’s not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.
C o m p l e x C o l o r s
These are more rarely used words that actually “mean” their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so you’ll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.
Read More
Writing Help Masterlist (Part 2 of 2)
This is part number 2 of my writing help masterpost. I hope you find the links useful.
CONTENTS
Playlists Weapons, Armor and Fight Scenes Myths and Supernatural Beings History Mental Health Physical Health Emotions and Body Language Diversity and Represantation Other Useful Links Just for Fun
PLAYLISTS
Otherwordly-Playlist Energetic-Playlist A Mix for Writing Love A Mix for Characters Who Just Don’t Care To a Dark Lady-Playlist Recover Me: A Playlist Futuristic Fugitive-Playlist Fight-Playlist After the Bomb-A Writing Mix Your Heart Dies-Playlist Under the Waves-Playlist Sorrow-A Writing Mix Devil’s Backbone-Playlist On Top of the World-Playlist Writing Playlist-Instrumental Writing in the Dark-Playlist Cosmic Love-Playlist The Final Battle-Playlist Four Mixes for Four Supernatural Creatures Slightly Haunted-A Writing Mix It Was a Dark and Stormy Night-Playlist Bittersweet-A Selection of Piano Covers Writing Mixes Float-Playlist I Never Asked for This-Playlist Background Mix-Caffeinated Music Cool Writing Mixes Writing Playlist Epic Songs to Write to Young Adventurers-Playlist On Your Way Home-Playlist The Gentle Art of Making Enemies-Playlist Sea Fever-Playlist Writing Playlist Writing Mix Do Androids Dream?-Playlist I am a Result-Writing Mix An Inspiration Mix This is How We Do it-Playlist Teenagers-Playlist Get Shit Done-Playlist Sad Songs-Writing Mix Exhalation-Playlist Curl Back My Loneliness-Playlist Free-Playlist Love Sucks Anyway-Playlist Antidote for Anxiety-Playlist Heart on Fire-Playlist We Played War With Wooden Swords-Playlist Rattling Box-A Writing Mix Innocence Lost-A Writing Mix Music to Influence You to Write Summertime Sadness-Playlist You are Doing Your Best-A Mix for the Emotionally Exhausted Playlist Doomed Queens-Playlist A Collection of Sad Songs Unrequited Love-Playlist Studying: The Disney Way Songs for Creating Stuff Mermaid Magic-A Writing Mix Superpower (Tracklist) A Writing/Character Inspiration Playlist Sing it Out Loud-A Playlist Songs That Will Make You Feel Better Long Distance Woes-Playlist
WEAPONS, ARMOR AND FIGHT SCENES
Knifes as Weapons Five Simple Ways to Write Convincing Fight Sequences On Writing Gun Safety Gunshot Wounds Weapons (and Women) A Guide: Firearms Wound Types, Stages of Healing, & Treatments On Children Fighting Adults Writing Violence Part 2: Cause and Effect Fight Scene Strategies: The Individual versus Group Picking a Sword for Your Character On Weapon Grips On Guns Combat Masterlist Common Sword Types A Beginner’s Glossary of Terms for Swords Bang Bang Bangy Bang An Impossible Guide to… Archery Guide to Archery On Wrting Action Scenes
MYTHS AND SUPERNATURAL BEINGS
Asian Lung Skeleton Anatomy Ideas for Dragons Humans and Dragons Creatures and More Myths, Creatures and Folklore Rare/Underused Supernatural Powers Masterlist on Zombies A Masterlist of Mythology and Deity Resources Dragons Creature Feature Faerie List Character Development: The Mermaid Writing Zombies Guide on Mermaids Guides on Playing a Mermaid Sea Creatures Resources on Merpeople Magical School Considerations A Masterlist of Superpowers Types of Dragons Ghosts Types of Dragons Guide to Ghosts Robots, Androids and Cyborgs An Anthology of Mythical Creatures Aerokinesis Pyrokinesis Hydrokinesis Teleportation Everything You Need to Know About Witchcraft and Wicca A Master List of Superpowers Mythical Creatures Masterlist A Guide to Superpowers My Zombie Apocalypse Posts Magic Resources Resources: Dragons How to Make Your Supernatural Characters Unique and Interesting Feyfolk Mermaid Anatomy Telekinesis Let’s Talk About Magic Fighting with Magic Myths and Urban Legends Masterpost Map of the World Mythology
HISTORY
The 1700s Writing Research-Victorian Era 4 Tips for Setting During World War One [1914 -1918] Victorian Occupations Love, Sex and Marriage in the Middle Ages Writing Research: World War Two Guide on Etiquette in the 1920’s Links About 50’s/60’s/70’s Writing Research-Viking Age The 90’s (Research) The Roman Empire 1920’s Entertainment Slang of the 1920s World War 2 Historical Fashion Masterpost Writing Research - The Fifties Fashion Through History Medieval Health and Hygiene The 90’s Guide: Life in 1998, 1999, 2000 US A Masterlist of Medieval Occupations Fashion Timeline of Chinese Clothing Resources for Writing Medieval Type Stories Writing Research: The Middle Ages Writing Research-The Roaring Twenties Fashion in History
MENTAL HEALTH
Characters in Therapy Hunter’s How To: Writing an Emotionally Detached Character Understanding Depression in a Friend or Family Member 8 Surefire Ways To Emotionally Screw Up Your Kid 4 Types of Unhealthy Mother-Daughter Relationships Types of Emotional Abuse Writing Effective Character Breakdowns Guide to Anorexia Nervosa Eating Disorders in Males Main Characters With Eating Disorders How to Play a Bulimic Degrees of Anxiety Writing a Bulimic Character How to Play a Traumatised Character What is Gaslighting? Writing Masterlist: Abuse Victims On Abuse Reactions to Tragedy A Guide to Self Injury 21 Things Nobody Tells You About Being Depressed Teens and Major Depression What to Do When Someone Has a Panic Attack A Guide to Bipolar Disorder Emotional Abuse in Relationships When Anxiety Strikes An Inside Look at ADHD On Writing: Psychological Shock The Things Nobody Tells You About Grief Autistic Children Anatomy of a Panic Attack Unhealthy Relationships Without Physical Abuse On Abusive Romantic Relationships How to Portray a Character With Bipolar Type 2 Disorder Portraying Domestic Abuse A Guide to PTSD: Soldiers Mental Illness: the Character is Not Their Disorder Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms Adolescent Psychiatric Wards Addiction Anxiety: A Self-Help Masterpost Military and PTSD Resources ADHD Guide to Rehab Part 1 Guide to Rehab Part 2 How to Deal With Mental Illness Bipolar Disorder Writing Characters: Depression Writing Asperger’s Sociopathy vs. Psychopathy Tumblr Mental Health Community Writing Tips #122: Dealing with Character Trauma Information on Panic Attacks This Is a Towel: Mental Disorders Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD Etc. Understanding the Trauma of Child Abuse The Brain in Schizophrenia On Depression
PHYSICAL HEALTH
Bad Writing-Head Injuries On Hypothermia Common Allergies in the US An Impossible Guide to: Blood Loss Writing Mute Characters Writing a Character Who’s Mute Writing Dialogue With Signing Characters Writing Mute Characters (from Someone Else’s POV) Writing Characters With Disabilities Who Weren’t Born That Way A Guide to Sexual and Physical Abuse Writing Tips: Writing Blood Loss Where to Pinch to Stop the Bleeding On Blood Types Blood Medical Facts Ref of Things Authors Botch Up a Lot Researching Away from the Internet: Character with Cancer Edition Figuring Out an Illness for Your Character Blind Characters Tips on Writing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Characters Writing tips: How NOT to write disabled people A Few Resources for Insomnia A Few Tips on Making Up Diseases Guide on Asthma On Scars Amnesia A Study in Physical Injuries Writing Realistic Injuries Guide on Prosthetic Limbs Writing Reference: Sprains and Strains Factitious Disorders Remember, Remember: The Basics of Writing Amnesia A Guide to Sexual and Physical Abuse Resources: Writing Injuries in Hospitals Tips and Resources on Blindness Guide to Writing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Characters The Limits of the Human Body Guide to Cancer Writing Reference: Food Poisoning Writing Reference: Instect Bites and Stings 5 Step Guide on Writing Character With X Disorder or X Disease On Strangling A Study on Amnesia On Head Wounds Tips on Writing Pain Writing Traumatic Injuries References Asthma for Writers
EMOTIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE
Writing Fear On Emotions Emotions-Where You Feel Them Writing Emotional Scenes References on Emotions Feelings Extrapolated-The Roots to Your Character’s Emotions Talk About Yer Damn Feelings, People The Emotional Guidance Scale 41 Emotions as Expressed Through Body Language Tips and Tricks: Five Tips to Emotionally Connect to Your Readers Writing Violence Part 1: Developing Characters and Comfort Levels Expressing Emotion Through Your Writing 10 Psychological Effects of Nonsexual Touch Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Effects The Psychology of Color Types of Crying Body Language Cheat Sheet for Writers A Wheel of Emotions The Importance of Body Language Physical Signs of Fear Emotions: Writing Grief Body Language: What Eyes Can Tell You A Guide on Body Language Intensity of Feelings Cheat Sheets for Writing Body Language A Body Language Masterlist Body Language Secrets Body Language Reference Sheet Emotions: Showing Surprise Showing Emotion: Anger Body Language Cheat Sheet for Writers On Touch Body Language: Eyes Writing Fear Writing Guilt Five Ways to Describe Emotion Five Things You Should Know About Body Language 6 Body Language Mistakes to Avoid
DIVERSITY AND REPRESANTATION
Strong Female Characters POC Profile (x)(x)(x)(x) Interracial Relationships Black People Skin Tones Writing a Half-Mexican Character It’s Hard to See Racism When You’re White Black in Upper-Class White Society Black Woman Hair Black Characters and Blushing Writing Latinas Common Mircro-agressions: African Americans and/or Black People POCs in Victorian England Tests for Representation Romance Doesn’t (Have To) Equal Weakness Links to Feminist Essays, Videos and More On Strong Female Characters A Comic About Strong Female Characters Racism Experience by Class Introducing Race & Skin Color Naturally Black Women and The Secrets of Nightly Hair Care Rituals Interracial Relationships Drawing References on Ethnicity A Few Tips and Resources for Writing Characters of Color Describing Skin Tone Skintones Describing Chinese Girls Female Character, Trauma and You Describing Skin Colors Tip: The Women are Not Weaker Than Men More Improvements: Female Characters Diversifying Sexual Identification and Romantic Expression in Your Writing
OTHER USEFUL LINKS
On Writing Kisses Character Drawcember Glossary of Dance Terminology Things That People in Society Frown Upon Art/Digital Art Help Masterpost Naming is Hard Naming Your Infection Wine 101 Guide to: White Collar Crimes Police Procedure The English School System How to Unlock a Car With a Shoelace Generators Earthquakes Pt 1 Daytime/Nightime Earthquake Pt 2 Houses, Buildings, and Immediate Consequences Writing Dynamo ILYS Free Downloadable Sofftware for Writers Essential Productivity Apps for Any Students 60 Awesome Search Engines for Serious Writers Background Noise Charahub Finding Out About a Crush On Arranged Marriages All About Luvree What Not to Do When Writing Romantic Relationships Emergency Custody and Social Services American Middle School A Guide to Expeditionary Learning Schools A Guide to: University in England Boarding Schools College in the US Guide to Private, Preparatory and Catholic School Guide on Private or Boarding Schools Writing a Character Who Attends Public High School A Guide to Writing Catholic Schools Resources: Military Academy/Military School Writing a Story That Takes Place in a Boarding School Applying for a University Guide: Life for American High School/College Students Australian and U.K. School Systems A Guide on…School Systems Custody Battles Story Elements: Adoption Adoption Writing About the Criminal World Gangs How Would One Go About Writing a Riot Scene? Crime Fiction Writing Research Alcohol Writing Help on How to Turn On a Guy Whilst Making Out The Things You Hear About Boarding School-True or False? Education in Britain Education in the US Education System in Ireland US Universities Foreshadowing Death Writing a Death Scene On Autopsy Death and Bad Luck Omens Writing Murder Scenes Guide: Pregnancy On Writing Birthing Scenes Misscariage Death and Gravestone Symbolism Death Reacting to the Death of a Loved One Write an Ironic Death Dont Talk to Police Cliche First Sentences Everything You Need to Know to Rebuild Civilization from Scratch Clothing References Size Comparison Site On Clothing and Makeup Writing a Feud Advice: Describing Dance What Happens When an Asteroid Hits Earth Tips for Writing a Birth Scene Random Generator Masterlist A List of Generators Fun Generators! Pacemaker A Guide on Science Medieval Herbs and Their Uses How to Write a Death Scene How to Write a Dance Scene (Waltz) British Words Essential Items for Crime Scene Personnel Masterlist: Police Work/Law Enforcment UK Comprehensive Sex Education Masterpost of the World’s Scariest Places The Ultimate Survival Guide New Zealand as an RP Location Generators Creepy Wikipedia Articles Masterpost California Hospital/Surgery British English Vs American English Masterlist of Cliques Guide to Catholic/Private High School Writing a Torture Scene Guide to Poison Conspiracy Theories Crime Scene Practice (UK) Tattooo Ink and Pigment On Writing Survival: First Steps Location of Your Roleplay as a Character How to Preach to Your Audience and Not Get Caught The Color Thesaurus Facts About Tattoos and Piercings Shades of Various Colors Masterlist of Resources: Horse Riding 9 Types of Intelligence Story Starters and Idea Generators Trigger Warnings Resources About Tattoos A Guide on Alcohol The English (Upper) Schooling System The American School System The 21 Steps of an Autopsy Guide to Interrogations The Effects of Abuse and Heartbreak on Children Resources on Foster Care and Color Blindness Things Almost Every Author Needs to Research About Tattoos Writing Pregnancy Information on Drugs Survive Nature A Few Links on Drug Addiction 15 Styles of Distorted Thinking Roleplaying Relationships Let’s Talk About: Writing About High School (U.S.) Advice: Good and Bad Reasons to Kill a Character Writing Tips 77: Naomi’s Advice for Writing Abusive Relationships Havocscope Organizing Thoughts 10 Things Writer’s Don’t Know About the Woods The Ultimate Shoes Fashion Vocabulary Description: Kissing and Smiling Visual Shoe Dictionary Sun & Moon Superstitions A Guide to Musical Instruments, Orchestras Etc. Young Murder Witnesses On Romantic Relationship Growth Superstitions & More First Impressions (Romance) Confessions Sans Cliches Celtic Tree Zodiac Signs of an Unhealthy Relationship Symbolism with Roses Tips on Describing Music Characters Dealing With Loss Eplans.com Methods of Death and How They Feel The Effects of Alcohol on the Body Resources on Fire Awesome Sites and Links for Writers The US High School System Tips for Writers: Body Language Describing Clothes and Appearance Witness Protection All About Death Tips on Writing a Scene Where the Character Is Eating Plant Symbolism Alcoholic Beverage Breakdown Survival Skills Tattoos Reference Sheet Information on Ballet Dancing Writing Death Scenes Reactions of Relatives of People Who Suffer from Terminal Illnesses On Custody Battles On Fire The Psychology of Color Stuff Nobody Tells You About Getting an Apartment Signs of a Healthy Relationship “World of Averages”
JUST FOR FUN
Mutant Generator All-Nighter Survival Kit The 50 Funniest Puns In The History Of Funny Puns Really Bad Analogies Written by High School Students Love Letters From Your Writing Words Used to Describe Genitals Click and Drag to Find Out What Your Next Best Seller Will Be Cat Tail Speak What to Pack to Travel the World What’s Your Forest Name? Harry Potter Click and Drag Game Insult Generator The Ultimate Insult Creator Why Tea is Magical
Writing with Color: Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone
We discussed the issues describing People of Color by means of food in Part I of this guide, which brought rise to even more questions, mostly along the lines of “So, if food’s not an option, what can I use?” Well, I was just getting to that!
This final portion focuses on describing skin tone, with photo and passage examples provided throughout. I hope to cover everything from the use of straight-forward description to the more creatively-inclined, keeping in mind the questions we’ve received on this topic.
So let’s get to it.
S T A N D A R D D E S C R I P T I O N
B a s i c C o l o r s
Pictured above: Black, Brown, Beige, White, Pink.
“She had brown skin.”
This is a perfectly fine description that, while not providing the most detail, works well and will never become cliché.
Describing characters’ skin as simply brown or beige works on its own, though it’s not particularly telling just from the range in brown alone.
C o m p l e x C o l o r s
These are more rarely used words that actually “mean” their color. Some of these have multiple meanings, so you’ll want to look into those to determine what other associations a word might have.
Pictured above: Umber, Sepia, Ochre, Russet, Terra-cotta, Gold, Tawny, Taupe, Khaki, Fawn.
Complex colors work well alone, though often pair well with a basic color in regards to narrowing down shade/tone.
For example: Golden brown, russet brown, tawny beige…
As some of these are on the “rare” side, sliding in a definition of the word within the sentence itself may help readers who are unfamiliar with the term visualize the color without seeking a dictionary.
“He was tall and slim, his skin a russet, reddish-brown.”
Comparisons to familiar colors or visuals are also helpful:
“His skin was an ochre color, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest.”
M o d i f i e r s
Modifiers, often adjectives, make partial changes to a word.The following words are descriptors in reference to skin tone.
D a r k - D e e p - R i c h - C o o l
W a r m - M e d i u m - T a n
F a i r - L i g h t - P a l e
Rich Black, Dark brown, Warm beige, Pale pink…
If you’re looking to get more specific than “brown,” modifiers narrow down shade further.
Keep in mind that these modifiers are not exactly colors.
As an already brown-skinned person, I get tan from a lot of sun and resultingly become a darker, deeper brown. I turn a pale, more yellow-brown in the winter.
While best used in combination with a color, I suppose words like “tan” “fair” and “light” do work alone; just note that tan is less likely to be taken for “naturally tan” and much more likely a tanned White person.
Calling someone “dark” as description on its own is offensive to some and also ambiguous. (See: Describing Skin as Dark)
U n d e r t o n e s
Undertones are the colors beneath the skin, seeing as skin isn’t just one even color but has more subdued tones within the dominating palette.
Mentioning the undertones within a character’s skin is an even more precise way to denote skin tone.
As shown, there’s a difference between say, brown skin with warm orange-red undertones (Kelly Rowland) and brown skin with cool, jewel undertones (Rutina Wesley).
“A dazzling smile revealed the bronze glow at her cheeks.”
“He always looked as if he’d ran a mile, a constant tinge of pink under his tawny skin.”
Standard Description Passage
“Farah’s skin, always fawn, had burned and freckled under the summer’s sun. Even at the cusp of autumn, an uneven tan clung to her skin like burrs. So unlike the smooth, red-brown ochre of her mother, which the sun had richened to a blessing.”
-From my story “Where Summer Ends” featured in Strange Little Girls
Here the state of skin also gives insight on character.
Note my use of “fawn” in regards to multiple meaning and association. While fawn is a color, it’s also a small, timid deer, which describes this very traumatized character of mine perfectly.
Though I use standard descriptions of skin tone more in my writing, at the same time I’m no stranger to creative descriptions, and do enjoy the occasional artsy detail of a character.
C R E A T I V E D E S C R I P T I O N
Whether compared to night-cast rivers or day’s first light…I actually enjoy seeing Characters of Colors dressed in artful detail.
I’ve read loads of descriptions in my day of white characters and their “smooth rose-tinged ivory skin”, while the PoC, if there, are reduced to something from a candy bowl or a Starbucks drink, so to actually read of PoC described in lavish detail can be somewhat of a treat.
Still, be mindful when you get creative with your character descriptions. Too many frills can become purple-prose-like, so do what feels right for your writing when and where. Not every character or scene warrants a creative description, either. Especially if they’re not even a secondary character.
Using a combination of color descriptions from standard to creative is probably a better method than straight creative. But again, do what’s good for your tale.
N A T U R AL S E T T I N G S - S K Y
Pictured above: Harvest Moon -Twilight, Fall/Autumn Leaves, Clay, Desert/Sahara, Sunlight - Sunrise - Sunset - Afterglow - Dawn- Day- Daybreak, Field - Prairie - Wheat, Mountain/Cliff, Beach/Sand/Straw/Hay.
Now before you run off to compare your heroine’s skin to the harvest moon or a cliff side, think about the associations to your words.
When I think cliff, I think of jagged, perilous, rough. I hear sand and picture grainy, yet smooth. Calm. mellow.
So consider your character and what you see fit to compare them too.
Also consider whose perspective you’re describing them from. Someone describing a person they revere or admire may have a more pleasant, loftier description than someone who can’t stand the person.
“Her face was like the fire-gold glow of dawn, lifting my gaze, drawing me in.”
“She had a sandy complexion, smooth and tawny.”
Even creative descriptions tend to draw help from your standard words.
F L O W E R S
Pictured above: Calla lilies, Western Coneflower, Hazel Fay, Hibiscus, Freesia, Rose
It was a bit difficult to find flowers to my liking that didn’t have a 20 character name or wasn’t called something like “chocolate silk” so these are the finalists.
You’ll definitely want to avoid purple-prose here.
Also be aware of flowers that most might’ve never heard of. Roses are easy, as most know the look and coloring(s) of this plant. But Western coneflowers? Calla lilies? Maybe not so much.
“He entered the cottage in a huff, cheeks a blushing brown like the flowers Nana planted right under my window. Hazel Fay she called them, was it?”
A S S O R T E D P L A N T S & N A T U R E
Pictured above: Cattails, Seashell, Driftwood, Pinecone, Acorn, Amber
These ones are kinda odd. Perhaps because I’ve never seen these in comparison to skin tone, With the exception of amber.
At least they’re common enough that most may have an idea what you’re talking about at the mention of “pinecone.“
I suggest reading out your sentences aloud to get a better feel of how it’ll sounds.
“Auburn hair swept past pointed ears, set around a face like an acorn both in shape and shade.”
I pictured some tree-dwelling being or person from a fantasy world in this example, which makes the comparison more appropriate.
I don’t suggest using a comparison just “cuz you can” but actually being thoughtful about what you’re comparing your character to and how it applies to your character and/or setting.
W O O D
Pictured above: Mahogany, Walnut, Chestnut, Golden Oak, Ash
Wood is definitely an iffy description for skin tone. Not only due to several of them having “foody” terminology within their names, but again, associations.
Some people would prefer not to compare/be compared to wood at all, so get opinions, try it aloud, and make sure it’s appropriate to the character if you do use it.
“The old warlock’s skin was a deep shade of mahogany, his stare serious and firm as it held mine.”
M E T A L S
Pictured above: Platinum, Copper, Brass, Gold, Bronze
Copper skin, brass-colored skin, golden skin…
I’ve even heard variations of these used before by comparison to an object of the same properties/coloring, such as penny for copper.
These also work well with modifiers.
“The dress of fine white silks popped against the deep bronze of her skin.”
G E M S T O N E S - M I N E R A LS
Pictured above: Onyx, Obsidian, Sard, Topaz, Carnelian, Smoky Quartz, Rutile, Pyrite, Citrine, Gypsum
These are trickier to use. As with some complex colors, the writer will have to get us to understand what most of these look like.
If you use these, or any more rare description, consider if it actually “fits” the book or scene.
Even if you’re able to get us to picture what “rutile” looks like, why are you using this description as opposed to something else? Have that answer for yourself.
“His skin reminded her of the topaz ring her father wore at his finger, a gleaming stone of brown, mellow facades.”
P H Y S I C A L D E S C R I P T I ON
Physical character description can be more than skin tone.
Show us hair, eyes, noses, mouth, hands…body posture, body shape, skin texture… though not necessarily all of those nor at once.
Describing features also helps indicate race, especially if your character has some traits common within the race they are, such as afro hair to a Black character.
How comprehensive you decide to get is up to you. I wouldn’t overdo it and get specific to every mole and birthmark. Noting defining characteristics is good, though, like slightly spaced front teeth, curls that stay flopping in their face, hands freckled with sunspots…
G E N E R A L T I P S
Indicate Race Early: I suggest indicators of race be made at the earliest convenience within the writing, with more hints threaded throughout here and there.
Get Creative On Your Own: Obviously, I couldn’t cover every proper color or comparison in which has been “approved” to use for your characters’ skin color, so it’s up to you to use discretion when seeking other ways and shades to describe skin tone.
Skin Color May Not Be Enough: Describing skin tone isn’t always enough to indicate someone’s ethnicity. As timeless cases with readers equating brown to “dark white” or something, more indicators of race may be needed.
Describe White characters and PoC Alike: You should describe the race and/or skin tone of your white characters just as you do your Characters of Color. If you don’t, you risk implying that White is the default human being and PoC are the “Other”).
PSA: Don’t use “Colored.” Based on some asks we’ve received using this word, I’d like to say that unless you or your character is a racist grandmama from the 1960s, do not call People of Color “colored” please.
Not Sure Where to Start? You really can’t go wrong using basic colors for your skin descriptions. It’s actually what many people prefer and works best for most writing. Personally, I tend to describe my characters using a combo of basic colors + modifiers, with mentions of undertones at times. I do like to veer into more creative descriptions on occasion.
Want some alternatives to “skin” or “skin color”? Try: Appearance, blend, blush, cast, coloring, complexion, flush, glow, hue, overtone, palette, pigmentation, rinse, shade, sheen, spectrum, tinge, tint, tone, undertone, value, wash.
Skin Tone Resources
List of Color Names
The Color Thesaurus
Things that are Brown (blog)
Skin Undertone & Color Matching
Tips and Words on Describing Skin
Photos: Undertones Described (Modifiers included)
Online Thesaurus (try colors, such as “red” & “brown”)
Don’t Call me Pastries: Creative Skin Tones w/ pics 3 2 1
Writing & Description Guides
WWC Guide: Words to Describe Hair
Writing with Color: Description & Skin Color Tags
Describing Characters of Color (Passage Examples)
7 Offensive Mistakes Well-intentioned Writers Make
I tried to be as comprehensive as possible with this guide, but if you have a question regarding describing skin color that hasn’t been answered within part I or II of this guide, or have more questions after reading this post, feel free to ask!
~ Mod Colette
fic writers i promise you–on my life–that readers remember that finn’s skin is dark brown.
i promise that if you use a descriptor besides “the darker skinned man” in relation to all the characters around him, people will know who he is in your sentence.
e.g. the sun’s golden rays made his dark amber skin glow as it slid lower in the sky.
e.g. the harsh white light surrounding his body roughened the soft lines of his face and made his skin appear greyish as though he were a wraith.
e.g. the only imperfection marring his skin was the raised brown scar that slashed jaggedly across his back. (finn’s skin’s rich with melanin, so even if his fresh scar’s initially raw and pink, eventually it’ll heal to a brown shade–either slightly lighter, same tone, or slightly darker)
i promise that you can describe him as you do rey or poe and your readers won’t forget that it’s finn you’re talking about.
i promise you, you can describe poe without making him sound like a white dude.
n.k. jemisin’s a master at writing her characters, who are predominantly people of colour. for this reason, she usually describes them in relation to each other and doesn’t rely on their skin tones. she explicitly describes her white characters’ skin tones to flip the dominant perspective that assumes white as default. here are some of her tips:
describing characters of color
describing characters of color pt. 2 (some of her rowling thoughts are ehhh, because rowling does otherise her characters of colour, but this is an old post)
describing characters of color: other people’s poc
other resources:
7 offensive mistakes writers make
writing with color: poc and food comparisons (john boyega can call himself chocolate and black people might describe him as such, but you probably shouldn’t)
writing with color: words for skin tone
words to describe hair (i’ve read a couple fics where y’all are clueless about finn’s hair)
describing natural hair
writing with color’s colorful critiques
describing poc and avoiding caricatures
writing authentic characters of colour in first person pov
in depth guide to drawing different ethnicities
Not mine I found this a couple weeks ago and completely forgot to copy the original creator💔 if anyone knows who to tag for this please tell me so I can do so!!
Actually want an opinion. Do these shades have a wide enough range or should there be more? Let me know! This is turning out kind of fun.
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You know, I may or may not be making a Picrew for the first time. Just for fun. It might be whumpy, who knows? [Of course it will be] Just not as whumpy as it can be because I’m sharing it with a friend and they might question why there’s options for syringes, knives, cuffs, collars, branding marks… you know what I mean.
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