Layering watercolors for portraits
October 19, 2010 2025-02-05 15:57Layering watercolors for portraits
This is watercolor portrait painting tutorial of my latest watercolor portrait, asking for my friend Sophie to pose, she has nicely done this a few times for me already:
I struggled with the composition on this one until I decided to change the format from a landscape to a portrait one. I also like to leave an unfinished part in the lower area with some drippings.
I am changing my way to work on watercolor portraits recently, using a more improvised way of painting, leaving more place for the paint to do what it wants to. Here are some of the steps I took :
In the studio, watercolor portrait step by step painting tutorial

The drawing on newsprint, I did some shading that is not necessary but helps me better understand the face in 3 D.

After shading the back of my paper with charcoal and graphite, I taped it on my watercolor paper.

On my watercolor paper, I just kept the main outlines. I reserve some areas with masking fluid.
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.
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Daler-Rowney Masking FluidThis fluid is used to create striking white highlights or to mask areas for overpainting at a later stage. It forms a fast-drying, water-resistant film on watercolor paper and board, and is easily removed when dry. |

I start working with my board at quite a steep angle so the paint will go down and drip

My first layers are blue in the areas in shade and yellow in lighter areas, I am not trying to have much control on the paint at this stage.

Once those first layers are dried, I start to add more layers, incorporating some purples and orange.
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.
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Yarka St. Petersburg Professional Watercolor PansSame 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 |

I start working on the hair and the features, adding paint and scrubbing some off.

I scrub a lot of paint off, revealing more light areas.

Comments (6)
padmaja
It is very enjoyable to go through your process and learn from it, this is a beautiful portrait Sandrine!
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Padmaja , very nice of you !
lesliepaints
I LOVE THIS APPROACH! …and you are so good with it. The transparency you have retained is phenomenal. I like the drippings and the un expected things the water has done with this. This is how I like to work but I use coldpress.
I also like your recent compositions as they seem filled with emotion and feeling.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Leslie 🙂
Holly Herick Design
I always enjoy seeing your process. Keep posting you amazing work.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Holly, I am happy to hear that 🙂