How to Paint Voldemort’s Skin | Step-by-Step Tutorial

Learn how to paint Voldemort’s pale, lifeless skin through layered washes, subtle undertones, and carefully placed highlights. In this step-by-step tutorial, I build up the skin from a Flesh Tint base, using Burgundy, Cobalt Blue, and Viridian Green to introduce color variation. Then I develop the shadows, refine the eye area, paint the veins, and use sponge-applied layers to soften transitions and create skin texture. Below you’ll find video chapters and the full color workflow so you can follow each stage. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:20 Flesh Tint base coat 02:14 Burgundy wash 03:56 Cobalt Blue wash 05:03 Green undertones 06:21 Eyelid color adjustments 07:00 Naples Yellow layers 08:57 Mixing the shadow wash 09:54 Deepening the shadows 15:13 Eye-area shading with Umber and Magenta 18:37 Highlights with White and Naples Yellow 19:29 Painting the veins 21:01 Refining the skin tones and highlights 21:46 Blending the veins into the skin 23:16 Final color washes 25:09 Closing STEP-BY-STEP COLOR WORKFLOW BASE COAT Apply four coats of Flesh Tint to establish the skin’s base color. BURGUNDY WASH Apply a thin Burgundy wash to introduce reddish undertones. COBALT BLUE WASH Apply a Cobalt Blue wash to add cooler color variation. VIRIDIAN GREEN Add Viridian Green to selected areas to develop the skin’s green undertones. EYE AREA Apply washes of Naples Yellow and Burgundy around the eyes. NAPLES YELLOW LAYERS Build up several layers of Naples Yellow. SHADOW WASH Mix Naples Yellow + Umber + Oxide Black + Flesh Tint + Sienna, then apply as a wash to develop the shadows and skin details. DEEPER SHADOWS Add more Umber and Oxide Black to the previous mixture, then apply another pass to deepen the shadows. EYE-AREA SHADING Use Umber + Primary Magenta around the eyes. HIGHLIGHTS Mix White + Naples Yellow to brighten selected areas. VEINS Paint the veins with a mixture of Viridian Green + Umber + White + Oxide Black. HIGHLIGHT REFINEMENT Apply another pass of White + Naples Yellow to refine the lighter areas. FLESH TINT Apply a further layer of Flesh Tint to bring the skin tones together. VEIN BLENDING & SKIN TEXTURE Apply Umber over the veins, then sponge on Flesh Tint + White to soften their appearance and build skin texture. FINAL COLOR ADJUSTMENTS Finish with separate washes of Blue, Burgundy, Viridian Green, and Olive Green, adjusting selected areas to balance the overall skin tone. The “+” sign indicates colors mixed together. Build up the washes gradually so the earlier layers remain visible. If you found this tutorial helpful, like the video and subscribe for more painting tutorials. Have a question about a color or a particular step? Leave a comment with the timestamp.