There is not a single best way to paint Caucasian flesh. Any orange-brown tone can serve as a base that can be made lighter and darker, and cooler and warmer as needed. As simple as this sounds, it’s maddeningly easy to misfire when painting portraits or figures. The eye scans portraits and notices false notes in a way it doesn’t for, say, landscapes.
But there is one tip that when used properly pleases the eye and makes it forgiving. Identify the complement for your base tone and a create neutral tone with it for use in transitions.
I use burnt sienna as my base. The complement for burnt sienna is cerulean blue. Before starting the day’s painting, I mix a neutral from these two colors and use it in the shadows and half-tones.
If you try this simple tip, you’ll discover that the eye will become your friend and overlook otherwise clumsy passages.