Many dreamed in childhood to learn how to draw well with paints on canvas. But not everyone has this dream come true.

Perhaps there was no time for art school, or there was not enough talent, and over time you abandoned this idea, devoting yourself to more necessary things. But if you still cherish the desire to learn how to paint in watercolor, the following recommendations may be useful to you.

Watercolor is the paint preferred by most artists. There are many painting techniques with these paints, with which you can create beautiful drawings even without special skills. A little lower we will look at how to paint a portrait in watercolor in stages.

Tassels

In order to make a portrait in watercolor, you need to have several brushes. You may not need some of them in the future, but on early stages it is better to buy them. Some artists use only one brush, but this requires some experience.

Everyone chooses a set for themselves. Some prefer brushes with artificial bristles. Also good feedback It also has natural wool, for example, goats. Such brushes are popular in China.

Whichever brush you choose, it will take you some time to get used to it.

Picture

If you are a beginner or have little experience, it is recommended to sketch the future painting with a pencil before starting work with watercolor.

I must say that some people prefer to work without a sketch, as sometimes pencil lines show through in the final picture. And some are just more comfortable.

But in cases where maximum similarity and detail is required, it is better to draw the base with a pencil.

Watercolor

When the pencil drawing has become acceptable to you, you can begin to apply the first layer. watercolor paint. Use classic colors: blue, red, yellow, blue, brown.

The mixture of blue and gray colors works well for the background. If you need to depict a person in different positions, start applying paint from the head. And then, while the paint is drying, make the background.

Apply the first coat of paint to the rest of the drawing. When everything dries, proceed to the second layer. Remember that when the painting dries, it will look lighter as the part is absorbed into the paper.

Lastly, add shadows and deepen the features of the face. It is very important to be careful at this stage so as not to spoil all the work done.

Portrait painting tools

Now, using an example, we will analyze how to draw a portrait in watercolor.

To get started, prepare the following materials:

• Pencil B or HB.
• Watercolors in the following colors: Cadmium Orange, Natural Sienna, Cadmium Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Lamp Black, Lemon Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Vermilion, Carmine, Ultramarine Blue or Violet, Gummigut, Natural Umber.
• Brushes: medium, thin.

Drawing a portrait together

So, to draw a portrait in watercolor in stages, follow these recommendations.

Here is a portrait of a girl in watercolor. According to this principle, with a little practice, you can draw portraits even from nature or from memory.

How to paint flowers in watercolor

Flowers surround us all the time. They give us beauty and inspiration, delight our eyes, and bouquets of flowers are the perfect gift.

And the painted portraits of flowers in watercolor will become a wonderful decoration for your wall. The technique of drawing flowers is not much different from the portrait. Would like to sketch with a simple pencil, and then layer by layer to apply watercolor of the desired shades.

Do not forget to do shading to give volume and depth to the image in the picture.

If you dream of learning how to paint a portrait in watercolor, but are afraid that you will not succeed, first put aside your fears and start reading this article. Here are simple and clear guidelines that will help you pick up your brushes and paints and start creating.

What materials will be needed

Before you start painting a portrait in watercolor, you will need to prepare the necessary materials for this:

preliminary work

2. Now we begin to paint a portrait in watercolor. And the first thing to do is put it on paper paints light, transparent underpainting. For the face, we dilute cadmium orange or ocher with water (the paint should be very watery, pale). We paint over the face with wide strokes, in place of the glare, the paper should remain untouched. Then we select other colors and brush through the hair and clothes, also leaving the lightest places untouched.

3. Now you need to do the eyes and lips. What eye color does your model have? Pick up desired paint, dilute it with water to a pale state and paint over the iris of the eyes in the portrait. Do the same with the drawing of the lips.

4. We apply shadows on the face. To do this, we add a little burnt sienna to our diluted pale cadmium or ocher. Shadows at this stage should also be applied very lightly, not at full strength. In fact, they should only slightly differ in tone from the first paint layer. Please note that therefore you need to monitor the shades that are reflected on the skin of the model's face. Suppose, on the one hand, warm light from red curtains can fall on the face, glare from clothes of cold tones can be reflected on the chin, etc. This must be taken into account and try to display in the portrait using additional colors.

5. Next, we begin to understand the shadows more carefully. We are looking for the darkest places on the cheekbones, on the lips, on the sides and wings of the nose, near the hair, etc. It is with the help of shadows that the face is modeled, volume is given to it. Main principle in watercolor work: always move from more light tone to darker.

6. We are looking for the lightest intermediate tones between shadow and light. On the face, where the light falls on it, there are also darker and lighter places. We follow the play of light and try to repeat it on paper.

7. We work with hair and clothes on the same principle as with the face.

8. At the final stage of work on the portrait, you need to take the thinnest brush and use it to finish small details and lines: individual strands of hair, eyelashes, lip line. Always remember that when working with watercolor, even in the darkest places, the paint should remain transparent.

9. Work on the background is best done in parallel with the entire portrait, but you can leave this for later. The main thing is that the background should not be worked out more than the face, but negligence is also inappropriate here.

Conclusion

We hope you are in in general terms learned how to paint a portrait in watercolor. Well, now it's up to practice, because only direct work with will give you self-confidence, as well as the necessary experience and skill. creative success to you!

watercolor master class

« The only expression allowed in portraiture is expression that conveys character and moral qualities and no temporary, fleeting, random grimace."(E. Burne-Jones).

Workshop PORTRET-ART offers you a master class on drawing a portrait with watercolors.

To create a portrait we need:

paper or cardboard

The watercolor portrait is made on special watercolor paper, previously stretched on a stretcher. Such paper is different types(details about this can be found in any art store). Let's just say that the Portret-Art workshop advises working on paper for watercolor painting Torchon.

Brushes - brushes should be made from natural materials (squirrel, marten, badger or ferret)

Sponge

· Pure water

And, of course, watercolor.

construction and technique

Before starting work, carefully study the photo. Always start building with the shape of the head, the oval of the face. First, determine the height (distance from the chin to the top of the head) and the width of the head. Then you need to find the middle line, as a rule, this is the approximate line of the eyes (but not in my case, since a complex angle was chosen and the reduction is in progress). Make the lines light, do not put pressure on the pencil (we recommend using soft pencil), do not forget that the main work will be done with watercolor paint, obvious "black" lines can affect the accuracy and quality of your work.

After the eye line is defined, we outline the lines of the nose, lips, eyebrows. We outline the shadows and highlights. At this stage, it is already possible to schematically show the shape of the nose, lips, eyebrows and eyes. Never start drawing a portrait with an eye, eyelashes and other small details - in case of a mistake (and everyone makes a mistake), it will be difficult to correct anything. With thin lines we are looking for a form.

The work is being carried out by the general masses, it is impossible to get ahead of ourselves. We work with the proportions of the entire spot.

watercolor painting detail

We draw the details. This stage is the most difficult, since right now you need to achieve maximum similarity. It is important to convey the character of a person. The main thing is not to forget to take measurements that allow you to determine the ratio of certain parts to each other (see).

Now, just, it's time to draw all the small elements. In order not to overdo it with detail, you can squint while looking at the original image (photo, nature). So you will see those important points, which should be taken into account - the main large spots, facial features and lines. This way you can make your job easier. Do not forget to compare the details all the time - we achieve accuracy.

We outline the shadows and highlights.

Before proceeding to this stage, you need to get at least basic knowledge of pencil drawing and human face anatomy.

for beginners

When all the constructions are completed, you can begin to prepare the watercolor paint for work. With a brush and clean water wet each color (this will help you mix colors faster later on). However, this is only for convenience.

We remove the auxiliary lines of nags or a grater.

We take a palette (paper, plastic or glass). Sometimes you need to use several types of palettes (for example, both plastic and paper) - such details come directly during work.

We advise you to start working with paint by laying out the shadows and dark areas of the portrait. Thus, the figure will immediately acquire volume. Take a thick brush (how much depends on the format of your sheet), make large strokes, use more water(Something like filling). Keep in mind that when the watercolor dries, it brightens. As for the color and its receipt, there are no specific rules. In general, watercolor painting loves individuality.

We pay attention to the darkest parts of the face, we try to get a three-dimensional image already at this stage.

finding color. work with planes

Now it's important to find correct color. Remember, watercolor is watery paint. This is what makes watercolor paintings light and airy, but at the same time saturated and bright. Therefore, when applying the first layers, add more water - this will help to avoid the effect of "dirty work".

It is worth considering that White paint, the so-called white, are not used in watercolor painting, although they exist in some palettes. The highlights and highlights are the white paper that you leave untouched. In art stores, you can purchase a certain composition with which you can cover the highlights in the portrait and the paint simply will not fall on these places.

Over time, try to limit the number of colors in your palette - so your work will be more natural and light.

It is important to determine the light spots on paper, they help us to perceive plannedness and volume.

work with color

Of course, it is impossible to achieve realism by covering the skin of the face with one color. The more various shades, all the better.

Do not proceed to the next layer without completely drying the previous one - this can lead to mixing of paints right on your work (although there is a similar “wet” technique, but this is not about it now). The artists in our workshop use a hair dryer. In this case, do not turn on the hair dryer at full power and bring it too close.

Remember - watercolor is friends with water. And if you made a mistake, went over the tone, darkened - a sponge and running water will always come to your aid. Wash off boldly (but, of course, do not overdo it).

As far as technology is concerned, it is different for everyone. Even trying to copy, individual notes will eventually be visible. This is a matter of experience.

You can correct your mistakes, but it is even more important to follow the sequence, do not dwell on the details of the face. Now we need to find the color.

preparation for detailing

At this stage, it is necessary to carefully monitor the maintenance of similarities with the original. Do not forget to be distracted from the portrait from time to time (depart, turn away), because, sitting for a long time at work, after a lot of time, you simply stop noticing your mistakes.

We begin to give tone to the eyes, lips, hair - we prepare the portrait for detailing. At this stage, as a rule, errors that were not visible before become noticeable. Eliminate if possible.

We determine the lightest and darkest places - we work them out. Your portrait will look like not only the copied facial features, but also the shape of the shadows.

Klyachey remove unnecessary pencil lines.

We look more closely at the darkest and lightest parts of the portrait, adjust, draw the details.

DETAILED drawing. shutdown

And, finally, the most pleasant part of the work is the detailed drawing. Now we can see: where the shadow should be darker, where the reflection is more pronounced, where there is not enough color, and so on. We finalize these points and pick up a thin (as far as - at your discretion) brush and begin to draw small elements of the portrait, paying attention Special attention eyes, eyelashes, hair. We control glare - without them, the picture will not be voluminous.

Do not forget that what is good in the photo is not always good in watercolor painting. The same applies to nasolabial folds, facial and age wrinkles, and so on. Such nuances need to be looked at according to the situation. We focus on the eyes.

Adding a background. You can also darken the lower part of the portrait, and then all the focus will go to the face (but in our case, this is how the background works).

Now is the time to draw the smallest details of the portrait and achieve the final similarity. The background of the picture is underestimated, often it plays a decisive role in its perception.

The portrait will be the most original gift for your loved one.
Leave a request and the artist will contact you within an hour to discuss the details of the order.

With love and awe, Workshop

The portrait depicts a girl in an autumn coat and a beret with a scarf tied around her neck. Head in frontal position, shoulders in 3/4 foreshortening. The background is dark. The color palette is based on the ratio of cold and warm tones. The light is soft and diffused.

We determine the proportions of the height and width of the neck, placing the main masses of the portrait in the sheet format. We linearly sketch the front part, beret, scarf, shoulders. We draw the middle axis and determine the ratio of the parts of the face along the vertical. We outline the incision of the mouth, the base of the nose, the lines of the eyes and the armor.

We continue to work with a graphite pencil on constructive construction details of the face, reveal the volume of the scarf, form the hairstyle.

Clarify pencil drawing. We are working on similarity with the model. We work out the facial features in detail, take the folds of the scarf, outline the strands of hair.

Let's move on to painting. We lay the front part and coat with a transparent fill. We make a warm lining on a scarf, take your hair.

With a rich tone, paint the background with a large flat brush. And then, when it barely starts to dry out, with a clean wet brush we create a texture on it.

Taking into account the nature of the lighting, we begin to reveal the shape on the front part with light halftones layer by layer of glazing.

We are actively working with color and tone. We write the beret, hair, coat and scarf, revealing their texture. We put the emphasis on the collar of the sweater. Let each coat of paint dry.

We work out the face in detail, focusing on the eyes.

Finishing up the portrait. We generalize the face with transparent halftones, with a wet brush we emphasize the structure of the beret and the protruding foreground fold the scarf, finalize the hair, glaze the background.

If you dream of learning how to paint a portrait in watercolor, then put aside all fears and doubts and, using this step by step lesson drawing for beginners, boldly take the first steps towards the realization of this dream. Available recommendations from step by step photos will help you easily learn the basics of drawing a portrait of a girl with watercolors.

Tools and materials

To paint a portrait in watercolor, you will need the following materials:

• watercolor paper;
• pencil;
• eraser;
• watercolor;
• brushes with a thickness of one to four (it is advisable to exclude the use of synthetic materials and give preference to natural ones: squirrel, pony);
• a glass of water;
• palette

How to Paint a Portrait in Watercolor: A Step by Step Guide

1. First you need to build a face with a pencil on paper. For convenience, it is best to take a photo from which to paint a portrait. In order to correctly perform the construction, it is necessary to measure the angle of inclination of the head, the height and width of the head, the ratio of the parts of the face in relation to each other.

When building, it is necessary to monitor the pressure of the pencil - the lines should be light, non-greasy. After the portrait is completed with a pencil, you should erase all the auxiliary lines that were used to build the face, leaving only the main lines - the outline of the eyes, nose, lips, hair, face oval.

2. The next stage of work will be the watercolor application of the initial "framework" of the color component of the portrait. First of all, it is necessary to register the darkest, as well as prominent places in the portrait to obtain volume, but you should not get carried away with any particular area of ​​​​the face, you need to register the entire portrait with a thin layer of watercolor.

Advice! To apply large-scale shadows, you can use brushes numbered 2 and 3, for drawing small details (eyes, lips) it is better to take thin brushes - numbers 1 and 2.

At this stage of the development of the drawing, it is good to use the technique of applying spots, to register the entire portrait with local colors. To better see which shade you need to apply to a particular area of ​​​​the face, you can slightly squint your eyes.

In this process of work, you can not blur the contours of the shadows, but you need to be careful not to darken the bright parts of the portrait. The first layer of watercolor should be thin. Watercolor must be well diluted with water.

3. After the first layer dries, you can do a more detailed drawing: apply a light layer of the background (brush number 4 is suitable for this) and fill in watercolor all the white places in the picture (hair, clothes).

Important! The final detailing is still far away, however, at this stage of work, watercolor should be applied more accurately and jewelryly than at the beginning of work.

Prescribing dark places, it is necessary to slightly blur the edges between the color spots with a damp brush, forming them into a single soft shade. This procedure is necessary to achieve realistic image. For this study, a brush number 2 is suitable.

On a note! It is worth knowing an important rule that you should not prescribe dark places with pure black.

It may seem that black dominates in the darkest place, but you should not use this color in its pure form without first mixing it with another.

To understand what color you need to mix black with, you need to look at the photo, squinting your eyes. Also, so that this color is not too active, you can prescribe it in a thin layer, and cover it with another color on top.

4. The technique of writing in watercolor is a technique for gradually darkening a drawing by superimposing layers on top of each other. But it is worth remembering that a watercolor portrait should first of all be “airy”, so the main thing is not to get carried away in overlaying layers. The final detailing (drawing the eyes, mouth, hair) must be done at the end of the workflow.

Before the final detailing, for the effect of realism, you can slightly blur the edges of the contours of the face (eyebrows, lips) with a wet brush. The same technique is good to use for drawing hair, so that they look more realistic. The background can also be worked out at the final stage of writing a portrait.

Advice! In order for the background to turn out with a smooth transition (from dark to light), you should make a tonal stretch. To do this, you need to dilute the paint well with water.

Artist Victoria Lemtyugova shared artistic secrets on how to paint a portrait in watercolor with the readers of the Wings of Inspiration project.

If you want to start with a simpler option, then by all means take a look. Here you will also find many different characters of popular cartoons.

Don't be afraid to draw! It's not that hard to make this dream come true!