Watercolor painting can be an incredibly rewarding art form to learn. But painting good portraits, especially of people, is even more difficult. Watercolor portraits have a soft, dreamy look to them, which can be difficult to pull off. But it can be done. Watercolor painting can be a lot of fun, but it can also be frustrating since, unlike with other media, it’s difficult to erase mistakes. And it’s not like you can go back and redo the highlights and shadows, so it’s important not to make your palette too complex, or you’ll wind up with muddied colors.
Want to try your hand at drawing a portrait? Watercolor painting is a popular medium because it combines the ease of a color pencil (which kids often use for doodling) with the vibrant hues of watercolor paints. And while watercolor pencils and similar tools can make your painting easier, they won’t give you the results you’re after without practice.
Here’s How to Paint a Watercolor Portrait:
Step 1: Find an Interesting Subject.
The first step in painting a watercolor portrait of a person is to find a subject. Sometimes you can find a person already painted with just their eyes closed, and they seem to come to life as soon as you paint them. Other times, it’s challenging trying to find an interesting person to paint with. For example, when I was painting this portrait, I looked through my camera’s flash and took a photo of a homeless man sleeping on a bench. I ended up painting him sleeping because he was an interesting subject. Picking a subject for your first watercolor portrait painting can be tough. But instead of deciding on a subject that will draw you in, try picking one that you cannot wait to use. Whether the subject is a pet, your partner, a portrait painting, or the family, you will be more motivated to create your watercolor portrait once you become attached to the subject.
Step 2: Buy a Watercolor Set.
Putting a beautiful painting on your walls is easy and doable. All you need is a watercolor set, a bunch of watercolor paper sets, a paper pad, and water. Mix your paints, apply them to your watercolor paper, and wet the paper with water. Paint your portrait and frame it. When painting a watercolor portrait, the second step in the process is figuring out what type of painting you want to do. Watercolor portraits can be hugely influenced by the type of watercolor paint you choose to use. For example, if you want to achieve the look of oil pastel, go with a watercolor pencil and paint the colors individually. If you want to achieve the look of watercolor paint, buy a watercolor set.
Step 3: Paint.
Painting, like most artistic endeavors, comes down to practice. One can learn to paint using books, videos, and online tutorials, but practicing is a must to master the art truly. Painting a portrait is a similar process: the prep work, the preliminary painting, and the final touches are all important. However, it’s always the final touches that will make your portrait truly stand out.
Watercolor paintings are a great way to express yourself. And painting portraits is no exception. But portrait drawing and painting tend to be rather difficult. Lines get distorted if you draw too closely or too loosely. The face can look splotchy. The eyes can look weird. And your portrait can turn out to look like an abstract painting.
Painting a watercolor portrait is a great way to relax and unwind, and anyone can give it a try. And, if you are after a genuine watercolor painting, you will need professional brushes, paints, quality paper, and all the tools to create a beautiful watercolor painting. The process can be as complicated or as simple as you make it; these are the basic steps to painting a watercolor portrait.