All artists have their favorite colors, and I am no exception. Although there are 24 colors in my watercolor set, about half of these paints are used quite rarely (and, for example, black is not used at all).

Of course, all paints are necessary in the work, but there is rarely a need to use everything at once. Moreover, watercolor in the mixture very easily turns into mud, and to make friends on one sheet a large number of different paints you need to be a top-class professional. Which, of course, I don’t consider myself to be. Therefore, I prefer to be guided by the rule “Less is better”)

Using this work as an example, I want to show how, when creating a portrait in watercolor, you can get by with a fairly meager palette.

I will paint a portrait from a photograph. I must say, the original photo turned out to be not the most better basis to create a portrait... Well, what should I do, I have the same problem as my model - I rarely take photographs, and among my photographs it is generally impossible to choose a photo suitable for a portrait.

But this photo has the main thing: light and mood, and that’s what I’ll try to preserve.

I will work using the “wet” technique, in one layer.

I thank all the contestants for the opportunity to re-read my favorite lines and discover authors unfamiliar to me!

As a child, many people dreamed of learning how to paint well on canvas. But not everyone’s dream came true.

Perhaps there was no time for art school, or you didn’t have enough talent, and over time you abandoned this idea, devoting yourself to more necessary things. But if you still cherish the desire to learn how to paint with watercolors, the following recommendations may be useful to you.

Watercolor is the paint preferred by most artists. There are many painting techniques with these paints that can be used to create beautiful drawings even without special skills. Below we will look at how to draw a portrait in watercolor step by step.

Tassels

In order to make a portrait in watercolor, you need to have several brushes. You may not need some of them in the future, but initial stages It's better to buy them. Some artists use only one brush, but this requires some experience.

Everyone chooses a set for themselves. Some people prefer brushes with artificial bristles. Also good feedback It also has natural wool, for example, goats. These brushes are popular in China.

Whatever brush you choose, it will take time to get used to it.

Drawing

If you are a beginner or have little experience, it is recommended to make a sketch before starting to work with watercolors. future painting pencil.

It must be said that some people prefer to work without a sketch, as sometimes the pencil lines show through in the final painting. And for some it’s just more convenient.

But in cases where maximum similarity and detail is required, it is better to draw the base with a pencil.

Watercolor

When the pencil drawing has become acceptable to you, you can begin to apply the first layer watercolor paint. Use classic colors: blue, red, yellow, blue, brown.

A mixture of blue and gray colors good for background. If you need to depict a person in different positions, start applying paint from the head. And then, while the paint is drying, make the background.

Apply the first coat of paint to the rest of the design. When everything is dry, proceed to the second layer. Remember that when the painting dries, it will look lighter as some of it is absorbed into the paper.

IN last resort add shadows and deepen facial features. It is very important to be careful at this stage so as not to spoil all the work done.

Portrait Drawing Tools

Now, using an example, we will look at how to draw a portrait in watercolors.

To get started, prepare the following materials:

• Pencil B or HB.
• Watercolor in the following colors: cadmium orange, natural sienna, cadmium yellow, cobalt blue, lamp black, lemon yellow, burnt sienna, burnt umber, vermilion, carmine, ultramarine blue or violet, gum, natural umber.
• Brushes: medium, fine.

Let's draw a portrait together

So, to draw a portrait in watercolor step by step, follow the following recommendations.

This is how the watercolor portrait of the girl turned out. Using this principle, with a little practice, you can draw portraits even from life or from memory.

How to paint flowers in watercolor

Flowers surround us all the time. They give us beauty and inspiration, delight our eyes, and bouquets of flowers are an ideal gift.

And painted portraits of flowers in watercolor will be a wonderful decoration for your wall. The technique of drawing flowers is not much different from portraiture. It is advisable to make a sketch with a simple pencil, and then apply watercolors in the desired shades layer by layer.

Don't forget to do shading to give volume and depth to the image in the painting.

Compositional design plays a significant role in painting a portrait in watercolor. It is up to the author to determine whether you will draw a full-length, half-length, or full-length portrait. But remember firmly - the chosen solution is highest degree justified by observations, reflections, analysis, understanding of the character of the person depicted.
Next, you should think about the layout of the main plastic features; before painting a portrait in watercolor, you need to take into account the silhouette, the amount of light, dark, and color accents in watercolor. For example, how much space should be arranged behind the figure and how does this relate in scale to the mass of the figure. Will we achieve sharp expressiveness or will we just paint a portrait in watercolors and note some minor qualities of the model. Nothing should be done “just like that”, without thinking it through, without feeling it. Avoid empty solutions that pretend to be original and unexpected. The general color scheme in drawing a portrait should reveal the intention and help reveal the image.
Drawing a portrait in watercolor - the interaction of elements.

Color has an emotional impact on the viewer. We must not forget about this. A noble silver color scheme, for example, emphasizes a majestic, calm image. If you paint a portrait in watercolors on contrasting additional colors, then it will be possible to orient the viewer to a tense state more quickly. The tonal state of the work is also very important. You can think color solution using close, modest color combinations and at the same time using a tense and contrasting tone to create a situation close to dramatic.

Before painting a portrait in watercolor, you should not just sit down the model and immediately start copying it or redrawing it on paper.

Pure watercolor should be considered one that uses all the resources that make up the originality of paints: transparency, the translucent white tone of the paper itself, lightness, airiness, and at the same time the strength and brightness of the color. In pure watercolors, white is not allowed; here paper plays its role. Therefore, craftsmen carefully preserve places, when every little detail is carefully thought out. Train yourself to make preliminary sketches small size- in tone and color. Set yourself only one task - to express the plastic idea in an extremely generalized manner, without being distracted by trifles. After this, proceed to working in watercolors on cardboard from life.

Requires from nature close attention in conveying the character of the person being portrayed, proportions, design and general expressiveness of the face and figure. Try to practice some techniques.

IN Lately It has become fashionable to write about highlights that are not allocated, because they are difficult to restore. There are methods of scraping, as well as covering areas intended for glare, with a liquid solution of rubber in pure gasoline. The rubber can be easily removed with a soft pencil eraser.

Paints in watercolor painting, applied in a thin layer, lighten by approximately one-third when dry. All tones should be applied freely, lightly, freshly - this achieves the best impression.
Any paper, when wetted with water, can expand and warp a little; it is glued to special boards or so-called erasers are used. When painting a portrait in watercolor, it is better not to use glue to attach the paper; this can add dirt to the image.

If you dream of learning how to draw a portrait in watercolors, but are afraid that you won’t succeed, first put aside your fears and start reading this article. Here are simple and clear recommendations that will help you pick up your brushes and paints and start creating.

What materials will you need?

Before you start painting a portrait in watercolor, you will need to prepare the necessary materials for this:

Preliminary work

2. Now we begin to paint a portrait in watercolors. And the first thing you need to do is put it on paper easy paints, transparent underpainting. For the face, dilute cadmium orange or ocher with water (the paint should be very watery and pale). We paint over the face with broad strokes; in place of the highlights, the paper should remain untouched. Then we select other colors and brush over the hair and clothes, also leaving the lightest places untouched.

3. Now you need to do your eyes and lips. What eye color does your model have? Pick up the right paint, dilute it with water until pale and paint over the iris of the eyes in the portrait. Do the same with drawing the lips.

4. Apply shadows to the face. To do this, add a little burnt sienna to our diluted pale cadmium or ocher. At this stage, shadows should also be applied very lightly, not at full strength. In fact, they should differ only slightly in tone from the first paint layer. Please note that you therefore need to pay attention to the shades that are reflected on the skin of the model's face. Suppose, on one side, it can fall on the face warm light from red curtains, reflections from clothes in cold tones are reflected on the chin, etc. This must be taken into account and try to display in the portrait using additional colors.

5. Next, we begin to understand the shadows more carefully. We look for the darkest places on the cheekbones, on the lips, on the sides and wings of the nose, near the hair, etc. It is with the help of shadows that the face is modeled and volume is given to it. Main principle in watercolor work: always move from more light tone to darker.

6. We are looking for the lightest intermediate tones between shadow and light. On the face, where the light falls on it, there are also darker and lighter places. We follow the play of light and try to repeat it on paper.

7. We work with hair and clothes according to the same principle as with the face.

8. On final stage When working on a portrait, you need to take the thinnest brush and use it to finish small parts and lines: individual strands of hair, eyelashes, lip line. Always remember that when working with watercolors, even in the darkest areas, the paint should remain transparent.

9. It is best to work on the background in parallel with the entire portrait, but you can leave this for later. The main thing is that the background should not be worked out more than the face, but negligence is also inappropriate here.

Conclusion

We hope you are in general outline learned how to paint a portrait in watercolors. Well, now it’s a matter of practice, because only direct work with will give you self-confidence, as well as the necessary experience and skill. Creative success to you!

Russian watercolor painter, famous for portraits secular personalities of the first half of the 19th century century - Sokolov Pyotr Fedorovich (1791-1848)

Portrait of an unknown woman in a dark red hat. (Portrait of Baroness Alexandra Nikolaevna de Malvirad (1802-1891), ur. Svistunova). 1828

Biography of the artist

Born into a wealthy Moscow family. The father, an inveterate gambler, lost money, and the house and all his property were foreclosed on for debts, so in 1800 his wife was forced to go with her young son to St. Petersburg, with the hope of placing the child somewhere at government expense. The only place could become an Academy of Arts, into which young people, as a rule, orphans or boys from among poor people of free rank, were recruited for their support and education. Having some connections in the capital, the mother managed to carry out her plans. In 1800, Pyotr Fedorovich was accepted as a student Imperial Academy arts and studied there under the close guidance of Professor V. Shebueva.

Alexey Nikitich Peschurov (1779-1840), Pskov district leader of the nobility, helped P.F. Sokolov in working on the album “Views of Pskov”, and was the artist’s patron.

Having completed the course there in 1809 with a small gold medal received for the painting: “Andromache mourns her husband Hector, who fell in battle,” and with the title of artist of the XIV class, he was left at the Academy as a pensioner for further improvement. At the end of the course in 1810, Sokolov, without receiving the first gold medal entitling him to travel abroad at public expense, left the Academy with the title “ free artist", thereby finding themselves without any means of subsistence. He had to give private lessons in the houses where he found refuge. It was a time of infatuation watercolor painting“at home”: many wealthy amateurs considered it necessary to take lessons from professionals. That's how he got into high society.

Princess Elena Vasilievna Meshcherskaya, since 1842 the wife of Prince Calixtus Biron. 1830s

Leaving oil painting, he took up watercolor and achieved great perfection in it. His watercolor portraits, remarkable in similarity, beautiful drawing and the pleasantness of the colors. For them, in 1839, he was awarded the title of academician.

At the end of his life, Sokolov finally decided to move to Moscow, which was associated not only with the need for new orders, but also with the intention to live quietly. In 1842, wanting to improve his wife’s poor health, the artist undertook a trip abroad. He stayed there for a year and a half. In the fall of 1843, Sokolov returned to Russia.

For some time he lived in St. Petersburg, busy organizing his affairs and the fate of his sons. There were still many orders, but my vision was beginning to weaken. Soon the family moved to Moscow and settled on Myasnitskaya Street.

In 1848, at the invitation of Countess O.I. Orlova-Davydova, the artist visited her estate Merchik, near Kharkov, where he became infected with cholera, which was then rampant, and after severe suffering died on August 3. He was buried in the local cemetery.

Portrait of Yulia Pavlovna Sokolova, wife of the artist P.F. Sokolov. 1827

Artist's family

He was married in 1820 to Yulia Pavlovna Bryullova (1804-1877), sister of the famous K. Bryullov, with whom he maintained friendly relations. However, Bryullov himself did not have any special sympathy for him and even suspected him of counting on a profitable inheritance. The marriage turned out to be happy, and the artist repeatedly spoke lovingly of his “Julie.” The family lived together. The husband and wife found complete agreement in everything and experienced forced separations associated with the master’s trips to fulfill orders. Sons were born into the Sokolov family:
Sokolov, Pyotr Petrovich (1821-1899), also watercolorist,
Sokolov, Pavel Petrovich (1823-1826),
Sokolov, Pavel Petrovich (1826-1905),
Sokolov, Alexander Petrovich (1829-1913).

Prince Sergei Vasilyevich Trubetskoy (1815-1859). 1835

Portrait of Leonty Vasilyevich Dubelt (1792-1862), cavalry general, head of the secret police. 1834

Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna. Late 1820s

Countess Yulia Pavlovna Tizenhausen (1813-1889), youngest daughter Count P.I. Tizenhausen (1774-1864) and Julia Palen (1782-1862); cousin of Dolly Fikelmon and Yu.P. Samoilova. 1835

Sofya Pavlovna Ferzen (1832-1863), daughter of Count P.K. Ferzen and O.P. Stroganova; was married to A.G. Pleshcheev (1833-1880)

Count Lev Aleksandrovich Sollogub (1812-1852), son of Count A.I. Sollogub from his marriage to S.I. Arkharova, brother of the writer V.A. Sollogub; secretary of the Russian embassy in Vienna.1830s

Portrait of O.P. Ferzen, ur. Stroganova 1830s

Pavel Grigorievich Demidov (1809-1858), cornet, son of G.A. Demidov (1765-1827)

Poletika, Idalia Grigorievna. 1820s

Vivien de Chateaubren Joseph Iosifovich (Joseph-Eustathius) (1773-1852) - Russian artist. 1830s

Princess Louise Trofimovna Golitsyna (1810-1876), ur. Baranova. Daughter of T.O. Baranov (1779-1828) and Yu.F. Adlenberg (1789-1864), since 1832 the wife of Mikhail Fedorovich Golitsyn (1801-1871).

Portrait of V.A. Zhukovsky 1820s

Portrait of an unknown woman. 1826

Sergei Fedorovich Golitsyn (1812-1849), lieutenant, staff captain. 1835

Olga Pavlovna Ferzen (1808-1837) ur. Stroganov. 1837

Mertvago Susanna Aleksandrovna, ur Soimonova (1815-1879), since 1838 wife of N.D. Mertvago, sister of S.A. Sobolevsky on her father’s side. 1838

Prince Mikhail Fedorovich Golitsyn (1800-1873) - trustee of the Golitsyn Hospital. 1830s

Bakunina Ekaterina Pavlovna (1795-1869)

Adelaide (Aglaya) Pavlovna (1799-1882) Golitsyna, ur. Stroganova - maid of honor, cavalry lady of the Order of St. Catherine of the Lesser Cross, since 1821 the wife of Prince V.S. Golitsyn. 1840s

Anna Nikolaevna Venevitinova, born. Obolenskaya (1782-1841), wife of V.P. Venevitinov, mother of the poet Dmitry Venevitinov, relative of A.S. Pushkin. 1830s

Campioni Santin Petrovich (1774-1847), sculptor. 1838

Portrait of Countess Olga Alexandrovna Orlova (1807-1880), née Zherebtsova. In 1826 she married Count A.F. Orlov. In 1847 she was granted a lady of state. 1829

Count Pavel Ivanovich Tizenhausen (1774-1864), son of Count Ivan Andreevich Tizenhausen (1741-1815). His younger brother Fedor was married to the daughter of M.I. Kutuzov. 1835

Princess Adelaide Pavlovna Golitsyna (1799-1882), born Stroganov. 1821

Elizaveta Mikhailovna Khitrovo, nee Kutuzova (1783-1839), daughter of M.I. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, in her first marriage to Count F.I. Tizengauzen, in her second to N.F. Khitrovo, a Russian chargé d'affaires in Florence. 1837

Portrait of A.A. Bobrinsky. 1830s

Portrait of A. O. Vitali

Portrait of E.A. Osterman-Tolstoy. 1830s

Portrait of Volkonsky Sergei Grigorievich.

Praskovya Egorovna Annenkova (1800-1879) ur. Polina Gebl, wife of the Decembrist I.A. Annenkov. 1825

Portrait of an unknown woman in a fur coat. 1830s

Portrait of A.O. Smirnova-Rosset

Count N.A. Samoilov

Portrait of Pauline Viardot-Garcia. 1844

Prince Pyotr Andreevich Vyazemsky (1792-1878). 1830s

M.P. Kikina (1816-1856) married. Volkonskaya, depicted in the Russian court dress of a maid of honor. 1839

Sofya Vladimirovna Komarovskaya (1808-1876), sister of the poet D.V. Venevitinov, since 1830 the wife of Count E.E. Komarovsky (1803-1873). Featured in wedding dress. 1830

Portrait of Countess Natalya Alexandrovna Zubova (1775-1844), ur. Suvorov. 1824

Portrait of V.G. Stroganov. Until 1833

Portrait of an unknown woman in a floral headdress. 1820s

GRafinya Ekaterina Vasilievna Vasilyeva, ur. Wilson, the daughter of the owner of the St. Petersburg English hotel on Galernaya Street; since 1840, the wife of Count Alexei Vladimirovich Vasiliev. 1846

Elena Grigorievna Chertkova (1800-1832), daughter of Baron G.A. Stroganov

Portrait of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich as a child. Late 1820s

Portrait of Anna and Ekaterina Vasilchikov in fancy dress. 1830s

Countess Sophia Alexandrovna Bobrinsky (1799-1866). 1827

Chertkova Elena Grigorievna (1800-1832), née Stroganova. Wife of Ivan Dmitrievich Chertkov (1797-1865)

Baron Alexander Ludwigovich Stieglitz (1814-1884)

Princess Sofya Alexandrovna Urusova (1804-1889), one of the three daughters of Chief Chamberlain Prince A.M. Urusov.1827