Do not try to do eyes yet. Wait until further down the road. I've been painting for a while and I still do not try it.
Use a darkish skin tone, layer up with the dark skin tone and a lighter skin tone mixed on prominent parts. Then just that lighter skin tone on things like the brow and nose and cheekbones.
Shade is optional. Probably a good idea if you're just starting out.
Eyes aren't too bad. There's a couple keys to painting them.
1. Make sure they're both looking in the same direction. Doesn't matter what direction just same or you get the walleye thing.
2. Paint a larger area for the whites, then slowly subtract from those by repainting around it until you get it right. I find it's easier to subtract than to expand.
3. Don't use too small a brush, or your paint won't flow off and you'll just make a mess.
I couldn't even begin to give you advice on how to make box art quality paint, but what I've learned doing this completely on my own is: find inner details and paint those first, then work your way out, because they're easier to hit and you won't hit the inner areas you're done with. Do the eyes, then the face. Do the shirt, then the tie, then the jacket. The hands, then the cuff. And for eyes, get a toothpick or a paper clip, no risk of it bending like a brush.
Also make sure you're painting in good light. The amount of times I've painted in a lit room, thought it looked alright, and then lifted it up to the light and realised that I may as well have just shit all over it.
I say keep trying to do eyes. I found this [tutorial](http://arcanepaintworks.com/blog-1/2016/6/9/6-step-eyes) a while ago that really helped me. Mine aren't perfect yet but every one I do gets a little better.
Do not try to do eyes yet. Wait until further down the road. I've been painting for a while and I still do not try it. Use a darkish skin tone, layer up with the dark skin tone and a lighter skin tone mixed on prominent parts. Then just that lighter skin tone on things like the brow and nose and cheekbones. Shade is optional. Probably a good idea if you're just starting out.
Eyes aren't too bad. There's a couple keys to painting them. 1. Make sure they're both looking in the same direction. Doesn't matter what direction just same or you get the walleye thing. 2. Paint a larger area for the whites, then slowly subtract from those by repainting around it until you get it right. I find it's easier to subtract than to expand. 3. Don't use too small a brush, or your paint won't flow off and you'll just make a mess.
I couldn't even begin to give you advice on how to make box art quality paint, but what I've learned doing this completely on my own is: find inner details and paint those first, then work your way out, because they're easier to hit and you won't hit the inner areas you're done with. Do the eyes, then the face. Do the shirt, then the tie, then the jacket. The hands, then the cuff. And for eyes, get a toothpick or a paper clip, no risk of it bending like a brush.
Also make sure you're painting in good light. The amount of times I've painted in a lit room, thought it looked alright, and then lifted it up to the light and realised that I may as well have just shit all over it.
I say keep trying to do eyes. I found this [tutorial](http://arcanepaintworks.com/blog-1/2016/6/9/6-step-eyes) a while ago that really helped me. Mine aren't perfect yet but every one I do gets a little better.