With Watercolor and especially with watercolor portraits I have a tendency to be on the tight and controlling side. It is fine but I also like when watercolor is doing its own thing. Splattering the painting with water after painting it allows me to obtain the effects I like with watercolor and still paint the way that is natural to me.

Watercolor portrait painting tutorial with splashing technique

Here is my drawing on watercolor paper ( Arches hot press 140 lb)

I start to add colors, directly on the hat , and with a yellow ocher underpainting on the face

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I continue to add colors around the face while it is drying.

I add texture with a dark grey mix on the hat.

I add more colors to the face a wash up a few highlights with a stiff brush and water on the face and coat.

Time to mess it up ! I add water with a spray and drips and let the watercolor do its work, When I have colors moving to an area I don’t want them, I just take them off with a tissue paper. I can also wait until they dry and brush them off.

Drawing on my notebook works better with my lucky hat on- The finished painting