Course "Portraits"

new ONLINE COURSEby Konstantin Sterkhov

Watercolor Portrait Painting

Learn how to compose, construct, and paint a human face with Konstantin Sterkhov

LIFETIME ACCESS

new ONLINE COURSE by Konstantin Sterkhov

Watercolor Portrait Painting

Learn how to compose, construct, and paint a human face with Konstantin Sterkhov

LIFETIME ACCESS

Language: English

Painting portraits is a skill many artists are dreaming of. To make portraits resembling your models, to express emotions, to show the features of every person you paint, and to hear cries of admiration – isn’t it wonderful?

In this course, we will learn everything we need to know about portraits! We will see how to mix colors for skin shades, get the right proportions of the human face, use a diversity of textures for hair, skin, and eyes, and practice different watercolor techniques.

A world-famous artist Konstantin Sterkhov will accompany us in this exciting journey to make the process easy and engrossing. Join us and become a master of watercolor portraits!

Konstantin Sterkhov
a master of watercolor,

author of the course

Lesson 1

Introduction

Organizational information, how to use the platform. The list of materials needed for the course.

Lesson 2

Proportions, shapes, and parts of the face

We will study proportions, shapes, and parts of the face.

Lesson 3

Using mannequins as models for portrait studies

We will learn to simplify the shape of the head in monochrome, to use an approach of lifting and hatching on wet, and to merge the darker shapes.

Lesson 4

Mixing colors for skin shades

We will get several options for mixing colors to get a skin tone.

Lesson 5

Eye detail in color

Explore the structure and learn how to draw the most expressive element of the face, the eyes. You will make a pencil sketch, learn how to create highlights and shadows, blend colors, achieve transparency, and paint eyes in watercolor.

Lesson 6

Nose detail in color

Explore the structure and paint the human nose in color. Learn how to use blue as a substrate, blend realistic colors, and create highlights and shadows depending on lighting.

Lesson 7

Lip detail in color

We will study the structure and learn how to draw the shape of lips. Learn how to mix realistic colors, create highlights, shadows, and paint human lips in color.

Lesson 8

Detail of the ears in color

Study the shape of the human ear, create the correct proportions, make a pencil sketch and paint the human ear in color.

Lesson 9

Hair shades and textures

We will make color studies of different hair types: blond, red, light brown, dark brown, and curly black, learn to depict various types of the hair textures, and practice special brush movements.

Lesson 10

Side view portrait. A drawing study

We will project a drawing in outlines, attach facial parts in their right places, and see how facial parts change in a side view.

Lesson 11

Side view portrait. A study in color and painting the background

We will know how to prepare the paper for the wet-on-wet approach, to get luminous shades of skin out of 7 saturated colors, and to use a dark background for enhancing the luminosity of the skin.

Lesson 12

Life portrait session. Front view. Drawing study

We will learn to use a thumbnail for finding a compositional solution, to do a structural and colors mixing plan, to estimate the optical boundary of the model's head, and to reserve the highlights.

Lesson 13

Life portrait session. Front view. Color study

We will understand how to use blue color as an underpainting, to mix colors right on the paper, to continue painting on wet after the work is dry, and to get soft edges both on wet and on dry.

Lesson 14

A Genre portrait. Violin player. Study in outlines

We will use a tonal and color thumbnail sketch for a better plan, prepare an outline drawing, and reserve the highlights in advance.

Lesson 15

A Genre portrait. Violin player. Approach wet-on-wet

We will learn to proceed in the opposite way from dark to light in the wet-on-wet approach, to use a supporting stick to steady the painting hand, to achieve the effect of the white shirt and a stage sharp lighting, and to leave big highlights without masking.

Lesson 16

Creative task

A creative task from Konstantin Sterkhov.

Lesson 17

Conclusion

Sum up of techniques learned and feedback.

Meet your instructor

Konstantin Sterkhov

Over 30 years of painting experience and 20 years of teaching practice
70 international and 10 solo exhibitions, a member of the jury for various international contests
His paintings are placed in museums, private and corporate collections worldwide
The author of the book «Masters of Watercolor» and the founder of the magazine «Planet of Watercolor»
A brand ambassador of the leading producers of art materials (Daniel Smith, Roubloff, Nevskaya Palette)
A member of Artists Union of Russia, Saint-Petersburg Watercolor Society, and Watercolor Society of Finland

Here you can find Konstantin’s works

Link to this page location: #form

Link to this page location: #materials

Which materials do you need
for the course?

Watercolor paper 300g;
A board and a tape to fix the paper;
Watercolor paints;
Big flat brush, big pointed well absorbing round brush, medium pointed springy brush, liner brush;
Paper towel;
Container for water;
Pencil, eraser;
Masking fluid or masking pen, wax crayon.