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Hi everyone,

This is the first time I have painted the human figure in watercolour so I chose an easy reference photo that I thought I could cope with. I didn't want to try a more difficult subject and then fail in my attempts. Self confidence can be fragile (mine is) so I knew I needed to take it slow. I posted this video on YouTube today so some have you may have seen it

I have a few more photos of people from behind so I'll paint those and then when I'm ready I'll start to paint subjects from the front and then hopefully move onto portraits.

I have included the line drawing, reference photo and my finished painting below as downloadable files in case you want to have a play with this yourself.

I used Daniel Smith's Cobalt Blue and Cobalt Teal Blue on the background.

The skin I mixed up from Daniel Smith's Pyrrol Orange and Burnt Umber.

I also used Burnt Sienna French Ultramarine, Sepia. Paynes Grey and a little Winsor Violet

I have had no experience mixing skin colours in watercolour so if you have had some experience with it I'd love to know some of the colours you use.

Other news

I am currently exporting the Coral Rose tutorial from my computer so I'll post it on here tomorrow for you. I'm also working on the elephant tutorial, the giraffe and the Butcherbird.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Files

Stepping Outside my Comfort Zone // Painting a Figure in Watercolor

This is my first time painting the human figure in watercolor so I chose a reference photo that wasn’t too difficult. #louisedemasi #watercolor 💜Patreon💜 I have full length, voiced over, normal speed, watercolour painting tutorials on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/louisedemasi My tutorials are full length and I don’t skip over anything or speed anything up. They are great for beginners through to experienced painters. On this page of my website, you’ll find an index of the classes I have available on Patreon: http://www.louisedemasi.com/new-index My new Koala class on Skillshare: https://skl.sh/39g2WA9 _________________ ✍🏻Sign up to my email newsletter here: https://www.louisedemasi.com/subscribe The reference photo I used to paint the fisherman is my own. _________________ Supplies bought from the Amazon Links below- help support my channel. Paints: Winsor & Newton watercolour paint Burnt Sienna https://amzn.to/2ZAuOdM Paynes Grey: https://amzn.to/2LqAxhk French Ultramarine: https://amzn.to/2MUUP6a Winsor Violet https://amzn.to/2WWX65p Sepia https://amzn.to/2WRW0Id Burnt Umber https://amzn.to/2MYwoVB Daniel Smith watercolour paint Cobalt Blue https://amzn.to/2yIvypC Cobalt Teal Blue https://amzn.to/3dguusc Transparent Pyrrol Orange https://amzn.to/3caOgUg The brushes I use are Da Vinci Maestro Series 35 rounds. In this video I use a #5 and a smaller #2/0 Maestro round brush series 35 size #2/0 https://amzn.to/32xnMsw Da Vinci Casaneo Oval Pointed Wash Series 898 size #16 https://amzn.to/2FksyzI I used Arches Cold Press 300gsm https://amzn.to/2ZBzsse _________________ More Popular Watercolour Tutorials here on YouTube: 💦 Using a simple watercolor technique called ‘Charging’ https://youtu.be/b1TGcdicclw Painting white subjects in watercolor: https://youtu.be/dPPt-rc-hU4 Avoiding hard edges when painting in watercolor: https://youtu.be/qkHbzMZicvQ The importance of underwashes: Avoiding overworking https://youtu.be/8l4_wePSDEE How to paint a flat wash in watercolor: https://youtu.be/efSp9VWnft8 How to paint a graded wash in watercolor: https://youtu.be/AYXbKUfpXWQ Wet on Wet Technique: https://youtu.be/tcbgP0moIss 3 ways to mix watercolour paint: https://youtu.be/__nQWdF37_4 How I stretch my watercolour paper: https://youtu.be/eGi9HkEijtU How wet should my watercolour paper be? https://youtu.be/5KSUnii5op8 Watercolour Blooms: How to avoid them. How to use them: https://youtu.be/FTbopN5mlCI My favourite watercolour palette: https://youtu.be/mMASSU_jt_4 Negative Painting Technique: https://youtu.be/BPN-_Tr5Yv4 Watercolour Edges: https://youtu.be/mpdnd30G6CA 3 Favourite Watercolour Techniques: https://youtu.be/QdgTFVUZq1Y  How to use Salt with Watercolour: https://youtu.be/we9SH-hRvTk _________________ Link to more information about my classes here: http://www.louisedemasi.com/classes Skillshare Classes: Watercolour Galah: https://skl.sh/2YOSuiQ Watercolour Chrysanthemum: https://skl.sh/2IuaxlZ Watercolour Rose: https://skl.sh/2mdtvjo Watercolour Fox: https://skl.sh/2qp1n0G Watercolour Succulent: https://skl.sh/2sYtR10 Watercolour Robin: https://skl.sh/2ugkDxc _________________ Say hello on social media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisedemasi/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louise.demasi/ My website: www.louisedemasi.com

Comments

Cynthia Negrucci

I loved this tutorial. I will have to try it more than once to improve. I’m not too happy with my first try but I so enjoyed doing it. I’m looking forward to painting it again. Thanks Louise!

Minx493

Look how great it came out!!! Well done!!!! I am painting your sweet peas right now! Your sweet peas are quite lovely!

Sarah Pisonero

It looks great!!! Thank you for sharing your journey and kudos !

Helena Davey

I’ve only ever done one portrait myself and my style is more abstract so there’s some grace in that... I did a sketch of a self portrait a month ago and still haven’t had the confidence to try to paint it 😂 I love your figure! Can’t wait to see the others you do

Helena Davey

Oh! And for color mixing check out Lioba Bruckner on you tube. She has watercolor tutorials on portraits

Jo Olson

The background the rocks and the figure all are wonderful and I love the colors. Thanks for sharing your baby steps with us. You are a brave woman to do that.

Alicia

This is awesome! I love how you painted the human figure and can't wait to try. I'm super excited about the giraffe too ❤

Lori Jewett

I am amazed at your “first try!” It’s wonderful. I only started painting 6 months ago and have a long way to go but I’m determined. I’m hoping someday to work my way up from flowers and birds and simple landscapes and get to pet and eventually human portraits. My biggest problem is patience! I want it all and I want it now. That’s a big part of what I decided to start my membership with you - beyond your artistic talent and teaching ability, you exude patience and that’s what I need to learn more than anything!

Gloria Howey

You made it seem fairly easy. I have a photograph of my brother-in-law playing piano. I’ve been wanting to paint it but I was too scared. I’d have to get his skin tone, hair and creases right. Your video gave me a lot of encouragement to try it.

Diana Blakeman

Baby steps worked extremely well for you. .. so I will work on your beginner tutorials - these will give me what I need to learn. 'Mud' seems to be a favourite with me.

Diane King

You have nothing to worry about, Louise. Your knowledge of color and drawing will be a great help to you in doing portraits. I wish I could draw and paint like you!

Michelle Wainer

Wonderful, Louise. Just perfect. Thank you for sharing that you too need to build confidence in new things. And as always, thanks for the out-takes. They always make me laugh. And I thought it funny when you made reference to when your husband had hair. Though not sure how he would like it, lol.

Sheridan

You have a great teaching style and I am so happy you are willing to keep it real and let us to grow with you.

Mary Jacobson

You need to show your husband the painting of him, that you did. Tell him how great you made him look. It looks great. We would have never known it was your first. Loved every minute of the tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

Stephanie Koski

It’s totally incredible! Thank you 😊

Uliana

Thank you so much! You are the best teacher:)

Iona Treeby Ward

I really enjoyed the tutorial. I love the colors you chose. I love how you combined the colors and created the texture in the shorts.

Desert Morning

This is wonderful, Louise. Thanks so much for taking the risk. I just love the painting, but it doesn't really matter if it's a pleasing painting or not -- it is SO valuable to see your process and how you go about learning new things. I need this. I love the detailed way you approach a subject. There is so much in your videos that I replay them many times and learn something new each time. And thanks for the inspiration. Your courage to put it out there. For instance, I've done the lighthouse painting at least 3 times -- still learning each time but I don't have the courage yet to post anything to get some help with the doing the rocks. ..among other things, although I actually learned some things about that from this painting. Terrific tutorial. Thanks.

5 Flavors

I tinker but am not yet accomplished. Yellow Ochre with a tiny bit of Aliz Crimison. also a tiny bit of cobalt for shadows. Use the same colors I would use for acrylics except there I would add white. Sometimes use dilute burnt Sienna for eye sockets and to create form. I really really struggle with hair in portraits. When you get your confidence up, hopefully you can help with that. Dark hair ends up being too flat or a field of snakes. Thanks for including us on your journey.

Louise De Masi

Thank you for the tips! I hope to have a bit of a play around today. I'll mix some colours up and keep a record of what I'm doing. Hair.......I haven't even started thinking about hair..... 😳😬!!!!

Louise De Masi

Thank you! It makes me very happy that you are learning from them and painting the same painting more than once is an excellent way to improve your skills. I'm learning as I do them as well. I tend to paint without thinking too much about what I'm doing but making the tutorials makes me think about what I'm doing and why. We will all grow together.

Louise De Masi

Lol- Thanks Michelle. I threw the comment about his hair in there because I knew he'd watch it. He laughed.. 😝.

Jackie

Thanks, Louise! This came at the perfect time. I have the sweetest pic of my son and granddaughter at the beach, taken from behind, that I wanted to paint for him for Father's Day. I had no idea where to start but this tutorial gives me some guidance. I can't wait to get started on the tutorial and see if it I can learn enough to attempt my own painting. I'm learning so much form you! Thank you!

Laurel

Love this tutorial and looking very forward to more! I have an old photo of our son sitting on the end of a dock with his fishing pole and our 2 (deceased) dogs. I’ve got it in my folder of future projects but after viewing this tutorial I feel like it’s possible! When you post a tutorial of front portraits I also have a pic of our daughter with her horse as he’s resting in his stall after a very big effort at a competition they were in. It’s a very sweet photo that shows the strong bond between the two so I very much want to paint it as well.

Louise De Masi

Thanks Laurel. I'll keep at it and I'll share what I'm doing with all of you.

Eve Eichner

Louise you always amaze me with your wonderful watercolor paintings. This is just at the right time. We are going up to our cabin in Michigan for the summer. We will be doing a lot of fishing and kayaking. I wanted to paint our fun times. I better get practicing. Thank you so much for all your great tutorials!! Your a wonderful teacher!

Louise De Masi

Thank you so much Eve. Have a wonderful time at your cabin! Relax and rejuvenate.

Margret Martin

Really like this lesson - have always been nervous about painting people myself - just might have to have a go at it.