Painting Water Color Portraits

This is my very first effort. I wanted it to be in color, but I did not want to use oils. I had already glutted myself on pastels and acrylics. The only thing left was water colors. Since I'm a pretty sloppy person, I needed to have complete control over where the colors would go, ergo... pencils!.

Never in a million years would I have thought that I could paint a portrait. But not only have I painted portraits; I have used a not-so-common medium–water color pencils. Using water colors was a frightful thing for me. I had no flair. My first drawing instructor was afraid I would never be able to, in her words, open up. By the end of the quarter, though, she had marked me the most improved student in her class. Her comments gave me courage.

I will never forget the D's I collected in elementary school for the drawings I did in class. It was extremely depressing for a second grader. As the years flew by, I began to question how anyone could get a D for artistic expression. Fast forward to college... enough said. I was most improved but had no (or little) talent. The greatest problem I faced was the lack of a formal art education. What would I do?

That one college class gave me the tips I needed to launch a career in portrait art (and other things). Light and shadow; shadow and light. It is all in what the eye perceives and the brain takes in. So, for the next several years, I focused on the light and studied how it played across the objects. But faces? I could never do faces. Or at least that's what I told myself. Then, one day, I decided to give it a try.

To begin a project, I start with the paper. The most commonly used, of course, is one especially designed for water. The thickness is up to the individual. Personally, I enjoy any plain old drawing paper other than newsprint. Newsprint is absolutely too thin. Whatever I can afford at the time is what works best for me.

Next: water color pencils. I use the Derwent brand. Although the leads have a tendency to break upon sharpening, they are still the best pencils for the price and the soft, even distribution of color. They are also the best to work with when applying the water.

Finally: brushes. Sable. I have had mine since the winter quarter of the 1980-81 school year. They are still in top notch condition despite the paint chipping off the handles. Start with a 1/2 in. brush and go down in size. Three or four should be suitable.

The next few steps are fairly easy. Select a color picture of your subject. Call your local college art department or public library to see if they will allow you the use of their opaque projector. Then begin...

Step One

Make a light pencil tracing of the subject. One way is to use the projector. If you have a slide to work from, use a slide projector. Another way to get your pencil outline is to make a blown up photo (Xerox) copy, black and white. Cover the back shyrell_melara side with a soft graphite lead. Secure the copy to your drawing paper and trace the outline of the subject complete with features and clothing.

A third way is to use tracing paper. Don't worry, I've been informed that this is the way some of the current "masters" work. And no, it isn't cheating!

Step Two

Once you have your light pencil outline on the paper and you are satisfied with it, get rid of the lead pencil! Remember, we're working with water colors. Now find a nice quiet place with plenty of light, pull your feet up, put your work in your lap and relax. This is supposed to relieve stress, not produce it. If you need to, do your work when no one else is around. This is what I like to do.

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It is now time to lay down the first layer of color. Study the colors in your picture. If the subject has a medium brown hair, start with a color that best matches the hair and fill in with a light first layer. Don't bother with details at this point. Do the same for each section (face, pupils of eyes, iris of eyes, lips, neck, clothing). Use the closest matching pencil and think of it like coloring in a coloring book. Remember, we're working in layers, so stay light on the color. continued