W/C?

[Dennis]

I have read all the posts in this forum for 2000 and have found it very informative. It would be helpful to me, and perhaps others who are into water, to hear tips regarding portraits in watercolor. In that one has to work somewhat in reverse from oil it would be useful to learn from an experienced w/c painter the process of painting the portrait once the drawing is on the paper. Thanks, Dennis

[lindsayfarris]

Hi David,
I am so excited that you want to try portraits in watercolor! The pallette I use is a mix of burnt sennia, cad red, yellow ochre and ultramarine blue(for dulling down flesh toned for shadows and to darken burnt seinna for black-like darks.) The key to a good w/c portrait for me atleast is to try to keep the flesh are that you're working on damp, not puddles, just damp. that will help you keep soft edges and smooth transisitions in blending. Paint like you were drawing (not oil painting!) Start fairly light and blend in midtones while the paper is still damp. After the paper dries glaze in the extreme harder shadows over the first coat. as long as you use transparent watercolors and not too many colors you will have a radiant portrait. Good Luck!
-Lindsay

[artwoman1]

I find watercolor to be endlessly challenging and portraits in watercolor are a wonderful stretch of skills. I paint self-portraits and figure studies in watercolor. For flesh tones I use alisarin crimson with gamboge and a tiny bit ultramarine violet. For the shadows and depending upon the light conditions I use a little more violet. You will probably find another combination to suit your needs. Also the mixture will vary depending upon the skin tone of your sitter.
I don't do any preliminary drawing so I work in kind of a bass-ackwards way. I place the image of myself in the field first. Then I judge the distances and scale from that central or strategically positioned image. This also necessitates painting foreground to background.
I also use a kind of shorthand. I've learned that I don't have to be particularly detailed to give the impression of detail. All I have to do is place the right visual cues and the viewer does the rest. Also I don't have to be absolutely accurate, just beleivable.
Another thing I've learned is patience. Earlier on in my watercolor painting experience I jumped the gun on adding certain touches and didn't wait until the right areas were dry enough and I've kicked myself for it. I find the secret of watercolor is knowing the state of the paper. Is it wet, damp, or dry? What do I do with these states and when?

Please judge for your self how successful I have been in learning these lessons by going to my website: www.davida-art.com (http://www.davida-art.com)


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Davida

[Dennis]

Thanks for your comments. I know it will help. Unfortunately there seems to be little information on w/c portraits.

[KaTee]

Dennis

I too would like some help with watercolour portraits.

I think we should ask Carol (Olecc) to put together a lesson for us....what do you think?

Here's hoping she reads this.

Best wishes

Karen http://www.wetcanvas.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Cherie]

There is a wonderful book called, 'Painting Watercolor Portraits that Glow', by Jan Kunz.

[Dennis]

I'll check out the book. Thanks, Dennis

[cagathoc]

Another good book watercolor protrait book is the ones by Roberta Carter Clark.

c~

[Dennis]

Again, thanks. I'll check out Clark. Dennis