Watercolor portraits are so much fun! There are many techniques you can use to paint a portrait, here I decided to start with wet into wet first layers and then add details as my paper was drying.
I also did add patterns to make the portrait more interesting.

Thinking, Watercolor and Pencil Crayon step by step painting tutorial

I am still trying to loosen up my style, still mixing graphic designs with watercolor. Here the designs are made with colored pencils.

I didn’t use my usual layering technique with primary colors but actually did mix the colors on the paper wet in wet, taking more distance from the picture and trying to be less realistic.

The paper is Arches Hot Press 140 lb, stretched.

Working from a picture, I made a drawing using a grid for more accuracy.

You might also like : Drawing with a grid

I put graphite on the back of my drawing paper to transfer the drawing on my watercolor paper.

I taped my drawing on my board to transfer the drawing on watercolor paper.

My drawing is just a few contours of the main shapes.

A first layer of Ultramarine blue for the areas in shade.

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.

Yarka St. Petersburg Professional Watercolor Pans Same palette of traditional colors the great masters used a century ago. Liquid-poured means semi-moist pans respond instantly to a wet brush. 24 pans in plastic case. Also individual pans. – Master Set

Adding some warm colors, reds and yellows.

Adding the features, more contrast and definition.

Printing some small scale version of the painting to try out different backgrounds.

Drawing the design with pencil.

Thinking- Watercolor and colored pencils