Mary Whyte gave me an ah hah moment for how to paint watercolor portraits, by Rachel Parker Varner on YouTube. 2 min 57 s.
- Video length
- 2 min 57 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pick a clear reference photo with one face, good lighting and simple background. Print it or keep it on a screen next to your paper.
Lightly sketch the head shape, the center line of the face and the eye line with a pencil. Keep the lines soft so they do not show through the paint.
Mix a light wash of your main skin tone on a palette. Test it on scrap paper before touching the portrait.
Paint the large shadow shapes first, such as under the chin, beside the nose and around the eyes. Leave the light areas as bare paper.
Let that layer dry fully. Work in thin layers rather than one heavy coat so the color stays clean.
Add a second, slightly darker wash over the deepest shadows. Keep edges soft by wetting the paper edge with clean water.
Paint the eyes and mouth last, once the skin tones are dry. Use a smaller brush and less water for these details.
Step back and compare your portrait to the photo. Adjust one or two values, then stop before the painting gets muddy.
Tips and common mistakes
Keep your washes thin and build up color slowly, since watercolor dries lighter than it looks when wet.
Leave the brightest highlights as untouched paper, because you cannot paint white back in later.
Use a scrap sheet to test every mix before applying it to the face.
Questions
Do I need special paints for a portrait?
No. A basic set with a red, yellow, blue and a brown is enough to mix skin tones. Add a burnt sienna if you have one.
How do I stop the skin looking muddy?
Let each layer dry completely before adding the next, and avoid mixing too many colors in one wash.
Can I do this with a photo on my phone?
Yes. Prop the phone beside your paper at the same height so you can compare shapes without moving your head.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
