Free Watercolor Lessons & Techniques
Painting in Watercolor: Alyssa's Portrait
By Margaret Crowley-Kiggins, FWS
Step One: After stretching the watercolor paper (by soaking it in my bathtub, and than stapling it to gatorboard while it is still wet, and then letting it dry flat) I lightly sketch a pencil guideline - without erasing (easers are abrasive on the delicate tooth of the paper and can mess up the painting!) of my subject.
Step Two: I like to start with a large easy area first. I chose Alyssa's shirt - I mixed cobalt blue and french ultramarine together to get a nice blue that will later compliment the warm oranges in her skin tones.
Step Three: Next I mix a light wash for the face - leaning it heavily towards the overall skin tone - red, yellow, blueish or greenish. In Alyssa's case, she has warm tones to her skin. Working light to dark, I also mix some darker hair color and begin "shaping" the hair with my brush.
