This is a mixed media painting, I used once again one of my kids as a model (they seem to enjoy the process 
)
The figure is done with my usual layering ,then I used watercolors on the background and a tiny bit of gouache.
Vermillion is a naturally occurring pink-orange pigment also known as china red, because it was mined in China, I thought it was appropriate for this painting.
The paper is Arches hot press 140 lb which I am getting quite found of.
Step by step Watercolor Portrait painting tutorial : Vermilion
Here are a few pictures of the process.
My drawing on paper, basically just an outline of the most important shapes
First yellow layer, I used yellow Ocher and Lemon yellow
Detail of the face
Here I am adding the reds, one alizarin crimson and one medium red. For the blue and red colors I am working with 2 hues, one cold one and one warm one
Adding some blues, detail of the face
I used only yellow and red on the background, I am going to make the round shape in the background by painting around it with gouache mixed with blue watercolor
Painting the round shape negatively
I use some liquid mask for the center of the flowers
The finished painting
![Pinterest sandrine Pelissier blog](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpaintingdemos.com%2F2010%2F08%2F26%2Fstep-by-step-watercolor-portrait-vermilion%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Fih0.redbubble.net%2Fwork.4724752.1.lp%2C375x360%2Cw%2Cs%2CVmVybWlsbGlvbg%253D%253D.jpg&description=Step%20by%20step%20Watercolor%20Portrait%3A%20Vermilion" "2012-01-10_2120")
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Sandrine. In the yellow layer, did you use the yellow ochre to create the darker yellow and apply it over the lemon yellow? I am thinking that sets the values like a value study for your later layers? Also, do you use hot press paper for these? I would like to try this sometime. Beautiful painting.
Hello Leslie,
For this one I use only yellow ocher for the figure, with different concentrations, and medium yellow in the background. For the skin tones I now paint almost everything with yellow ocher except if I have an area that is brighter .
Like here in the painting “profile portrait of Sophie” I used some Lemon yellow on top of the eye.
http://www.watercolorpainting.ca/profileportraitofsophie2yellows.jpg
You can see the difference on the finished painting:
http://www.watercolorpainting.ca/step5.jpg
But mostly , my faces are painted with yellow ocher. In my older watercolor portraits I was using a medium yellow , you can see it on this example.
http://www.watercolorpainting.ca/20080620_15.jpg
http://www.watercolorpainting.ca/Pelissier,Sandrine-Uncomicstrip.jpg
But now I found Ocher to give me a more natural skin tone.
This is Arches hot press. I am getting quite found of this type of paper because it allows me to be more precise and I like the way the watercolor will dry on it.
Thank-you, so much, Sandrine. I think I have a few students who would like to learn this layering approach. I think I understand from this reply and the other tutelage you gave earlier with this process.
I think you are right about hot press.
This is so good love it man your talented
I will be back for more 
This is wonderful to see the process. I can hardly believe how you separate the colors. It is like four color printing. I will keep an eye on your blog, I have so much to learn.
Thanks Holly, The process makes me think about color printing as well:-) The quality of the colors obtained this way is different than if you were painting directly with the final color, more luminous.
hi is this handmade ? Now a day you get so many software that i m not sure whom to admire.If its done hand ,I am a fan
.Even with computers i would a fan 
Hello Vandana, Yes this is handmade .
I am using the computer before painting to select pictures and crop them. It is a great tool to prepare before painting.But after that, all the painting is done by hand.
Thanks for visiting my blog
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