These days I am feeling like painting a few watercolor portraits again, so this one is from a picture of my oldest daughter, Louise.I used watercolor, gouache, a bit of liquid acrylic, and watercolor crayons, on Arches paper hot press 140 lb. You can read the details with the step by step pictures below or you can watch the time lapse video to see
Watercolor and mixed media painting: Multi Colored Days
Here is my drawing on the stretched paper with my reference picture.
I start with a layer of Da Vinci Yellow Ocher.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Da Vinci paints are exciting, intense, and rated among the best in the world for quality. The paints are permanent, with the highest tinting strength and pigment concentration available, and a creamy consistency for smooth, easy dispersion with water.
When working with layers, I always try to paint the background at the same time so it is well integrated in the finished painting even though at that time I am not sure what will go exactly on the background.
Now working with 2 shades of red, one more orange and one more pink, looking at my reference picture to see which one should go where.
I also paint the background with a layer of red,and start to introduce some blue. I have my painting at a 30 degree angle that makes painting washes easier.
Still adding more colors now, oranges and browns.
I lift up some paint in areas I want lighter with a stiff brush and lots of water.
I paint the background with a mix of gouache, liquid acrylic and watercolor.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Acryla Designer Gouache is a fast-drying, opaque acrylic based watercolor paint. It’s water soluble while wet, and water-resistant, matte and opaque, even over dark surfaces. Great for grounds and layering.
I did accentuate some areas with watercolor crayons. Time for splashing, with water, and water mixed with watercolors. I remove unwanted stains with a tissue paper.
Originally from France, I have been living in North Vancouver, Canada for the past 20 years.
My work has been collected and exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally. I am also part of the Art Rentals and sales program of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Many of my paintings have been published in Art books and magazines (Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Acrylic Magazine, International Artist Magazine). I wrote 2 art instruction books with North Light/F+W Books.
I have been writing for the last 5 years for my blog: paintingdemos.com, that has a mailing list of about 10 000 subscribers and about 20 000 visitors per month.
I am an active member in the community, as a co-founder of the North Shore Art crawl, a co-founder of a weekly life drawing group, a board member of the North Vancouver Arts Council, and have been invited as a juror for public art, art grants and juried exhibitions. You can read more about my collaborations here.
Yes, I understand, but real time is a few days of work, that would be too long to watch 🙂
sarah hedley
you can slow down the video in youtube. go to the cog sign at the bottom of the screen and in there are speed up and slow down times you can choose from.
Comments (5)
silvia
wow… wish to see a demo in normal time…is it too much I’m afraid…in this way is wonderful…but frustrating..:)
Sandrine Pelissier
Yes, I understand, but real time is a few days of work, that would be too long to watch 🙂
sarah hedley
you can slow down the video in youtube. go to the cog sign at the bottom of the screen and in there are speed up and slow down times you can choose from.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks for the tip Sarah, I did not know that !
Watercolor portrait tutorial :layering colors, crayons, wax paper cut-out
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