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Skillshare

Introduction To Watercolor Portraits: Learn Simple Drawing & Painting Techniques

via Skillshare

Overview

This class Introduces Watercolor Portrait Painting & Drawing not only to beginners, but also to intermediate artists accustomed more to other media than watercolor. 

We'll do a few drawing exercises to help you understand the basic form & structure of the human head and its proportions. We'll learn how to do quick sketches of portraits and set up a regular drawing practice, that doesn't go against your schedule yet makes you progress greatly. 

We'll get acquainted with watercolor medium by doing a few simple exercises together to give you an idea about how to handle the watery paint. You'll learn how shading works in both pencil and watercolor and you'll be all set to create your first watercolor portrait.

We will then apply all these techniques to paint a flowy watercolor portrait in one color, from sketch to finish. 

What we'll cover in the drawing part of this class:

  • How to simplify & sketch basic form of the human head
  • How to sketch this form from multiple angles
  • How to do a quick practice in your sketchbook to train yourself to see underlying construction of the human head
  • How proportions work in a human face and where to place every feature correctly
  • Differences between female & male portrait
  • How to simplify & sketch different features of the face 
  • How to draw from references & draw light and shadow
  • How to practice drawing portraits regularly & effectively
  • How to create sketch & thumbnail / value map for your watercolor portrait painting 
  • How to transfer your sketches

What we'll cover in the painting part of this class:

  • How to set up for painting with watercolor
  • How "Wet in Wet" & Wet on Dry" watercolor technique works
  • How to achieve flat washes or expressive texture
  • How to paint in multiple layers
  • How to blend edges and create depth in your paintings
  • How to lift pigment and make corrections
  • How to paint light & shadow in watercolor
  • How to decorate your watercolor portraits with splatters, drips and effects

What we'll cover in the bonus lessons:

  • I'll be adding BONUS lessons to this class on regular basis - first two lessons coming up in the first week of April 2023
  • Every bonus lesson is an opportunity to test our newly acquired skills on a different subject, test out different lighting scenarios, different skin types
  • So check in to this class regularly as there will be new challenge waiting for you every now and than

By the end of this class,you should have a good understanding of how to sketch a portrait and how to utilize watercolor techniques to create a captivating watercolor portrait painting. You will also have a few pages of sketches to get you started on your portrait drawing journey as well as a beautiful watercolor portrait study in your hand. 

This class is suitable for everyone, who wants to give portrait drawing & painting a go. It was built with the struggles of a beginner in mind, but intermediate artists will also benefit from this class, as it might give them a new perspective and help simplify their own process. 

I highly recommend to take this class with a drawing & painting art supplies in your hand, not just watching the lessons but following along with every exercise. Portrait drawing & painting can be very intimidating and  theoretical knowledge doesn't translate into the skill, it needs to be regularly practiced and so it is up to you to pick up that pencil & brush and have lots of fun along the way :)

I sincerely believe that your journey of creating captivating watercolor portraits is just starting here :)

Syllabus

  • Introduction To Watercolor Portraits
  • Class Orientation
  • Materials
  • Drawing Warmup - The Head
  • Proportions - Female vs. Male Head
  • Features - Eye, Nose, Mouth, Ear
  • Tips For Regular Drawing Practice
  • Drawing Summary
  • Watercolor Warmup
  • How Shading Works
  • Creating a Thumbnail / Value Map
  • Creating & Transferring Your Sketch
  • Painting 1st Layer
  • 2nd Layer - Deepening Shadows
  • 3rd Layer - Darks & Details
  • Final Thoughts
  • Bonus lesson n. 1 - Thumbnail & Sketch
  • Bonus lesson n. 1 - Watercolor Painting

Taught by

Jane-Beata

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