How to Paint Watercolor Portraits

Name: How to Paint Watercolor Portraits
Rating: 4.5 (12 reviews)

Learn the easy way to create watercolor portraits from any photograph!

Created byWatercolour Mentor

Last updated 3/2021

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

How to sketch and paint 6 different portraits, based on 6 reference photos.
How to use the grid technique to transfer a photo of a portrait onto watercolor paper.
How to quickly draw faces from a reference photograph freehand.
How to paint subjects in various poses and lighting conditions.
How to draw a portrait in pencil using two simple methods.
How to layer paints to add color and details.
My two step process in painting a watercolor portrait - keeping colors fresh and vibrant.
How to use essential watercolour techniques in the context of portraiture, such as wet-in-wet and wet-on-dry.
How to determine a light source, and the correct use of values in painting.
What essential paints, paper, brushes and drawing materials you will need.

Course content

3 sections • 16 lectures • 7h 36m total length

Introduction: What will I get from this course?1:02
Learn to turn any photograph into a realistic watercolor portrait using a beginner-friendly painting process, sketch six portraits from reference photos, and layer paints to add color and details.
Materials Required11:48
Identify essential watercolor portrait materials, including flat, round, calligraphy, and mop brushes; 100% cotton hot-press paper; and drawing tools like mechanical pencils, erasers, and rulers for accurate sketches.

Drawing Portraits: Gridding Lesson19:32
Master the grid transfer technique to reproduce portraits from photos quickly and accurately, focusing on proportions, eye and lip placement, shading, and composition.
Drawing Portraits: Freehand Drawing Lesson28:55
Master freehand portrait sketching by observing a reference photo, placing it beside your paper, and outlining head shape, hair, and key landmarks like eyes, nose, and lips.

Ballerina - Part 137:21
Mix skin tones from yellow ochre, carmine, and red on 100 percent cotton hot-press watercolor paper, then layer for translucency; refine eyes, lips, and shadows from a reference photo.
Ballerina - Part 229:58
Build soft watercolor portraits by laying darks with a coffee-like tint, feathering edges, and dry-brushing details; enhance eyes with eyeliner and lashes, define lips, nostrils, and clothing with muted tones.
Ballerina - Part 349:13
Master a layered watercolor portrait workflow using cobalt blue and cerulean for a dark background, cut around the face with flat and round brushes, and apply pink glazes for depth.
Portrait 2 - Part 118:21
Kick off with a base wash for a watercolor portrait using yellow ochre, carmine, and pink. Then build shadows, hair, and eye details through glazing and careful edges.
Portrait 2 - Part 233:56
Apply a wash of reddish yellow mixed with neutral tint to the lips and nose, following the pencil outline and building subtle shadows while the light comes from the left.
Portrait 2 - Part 327:22
Portrait 2 part 3 builds depth with darks and shadows, blends neutral tint with ultramarine blue, adds hair and eye details, and uses dry brush strokes to make face pop.
Portrait 341:31
Mix light skin tones with yellow ochre and red hues, apply layered washes and dry-brush strokes to build hair and facial features, then integrate background for a cohesive watercolor portrait.
Portrait 435:12
Learn to paint a watercolor portrait by building flesh tones, shadows, and depth with wet-on-wet washes, negative painting around teeth, and cutting around the face for detail.
Portrait 5 - Part 128:51
Mix a light flesh-tone wash and block in the portrait, then layer shadows, eyes, eyebrows, and lips with careful brushwork to build depth in watercolor portraits.
Portrait 5 - Part 227:02
Master depth in watercolor portraits with repeated washes and careful shadow work, refining face features with layered color, soft edges, and fine hair and lip details.
Portrait 6 - Part 129:43
Begin a watercolor portrait with a yellow ochre skin tone wash, blending burnt sienna, amber, and ultramarine; then layer shadows and refine eyes, lips, and hair.
Portrait 6 - Part 237:09
Master watercolor portrait technique by building form with selective washes, glazing for depth, and controlled darks in eyes, hair, and clothing, with a cool blue background to enhance contrast.

Requirements

No prerequisites.

Description

I'm Darren from Watercolour Mentor and I'd like to welcome you to 'How to Paint Watercolor Portraits'!

Portrait painting is challenging! Especially challenging for beginners. By the end of this class, you will be able to easily turn any photograph into a realistic portrait with my portrait painting process and be able to show off your vibrant portraits to your friends and family!

I'm going to simplify the portrait painting process for you by showing you:

How to sketch and paint 6 different portraits, based on 6 reference photos.
How to use the grid technique to transfer a photo of a portrait onto watercolor paper.
How to quickly draw faces from a reference photograph freehand.
How to paint subjects in various poses and lighting conditions.
How to draw a portrait in pencil using two simple methods.
How to layer paints to add color and details.
My two-step process in painting a watercolor portrait - keeping colors fresh and vibrant.
How to use essential watercolour techniques in the context of portraiture, such as wet-in-wet and wet-on-dry.
How to determine a light source, and the correct use of values in painting.
What essential paints, paper, brushes, and drawing materials you will need.

Note: all reference photographs, painting scans, and pencil sketches are included under the 'Materials Required' lecture.

Class Activity:

Part 1:

Pick two or more of the portraits shown in this class, and try to paint each portrait demonstrated by following along with the demonstration. Try to spend as much time as possible on the drawing until you are happy with how it looks. If you're feeling adventurous, how about changing some of the facial features or trying some different color combinations?

Part 2:

Find a reference photograph of a person whom you'd like to paint - consider trying to paint a family member or a loved one as you will be more familiar with their facial details and feel a personal connection towards the subject. Using the techniques and processes shown in this class, transfer the reference photo over to your sketchbook or watercolor paper, and paint with watercolor. Upload your project to this class! I will provide feedback and answer any questions posted in the discussions and projects.

This is a feature-packed class, and I have included many demonstrations to provide you with more opportunities to learn how to paint different subjects.

So if you're ready to boost your portraiture skills, join me in this class and let's have some fun!

Who this course is for:

Students learning watercolor portraiture
Students learning watercolor
Beginner watercolor students

How to Paint Watercolor Portraits

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 13min

Step 1: Drawing your Portrait2 lectures • 48min

Step 2: Painting Your Portraits in Watercolor12 lectures • 6hr 36min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: