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Watercolour Portrait Workshop

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In this session we learn how to paint a watercolour portrait using a three-layer technique for showing the dark and light areas of the face.

Friday 25th October, 4 pm – 6:30 pm

Our technique has several steps. We are all starting from the same pencil sketch. 

A good sketch that shows the three-dimensionality of the face is needed for making a watercolour portrait. Each learner is given a printed tracing-template that we copy with pencils onto our watercolour paper. This makes sure that our work in the session does not rely on a learner’s sketching ability. 

Sabine will then demonstrate how we make evenly toned colour areas with watercolour holding the drawing board and paper raised at an angle in front of us. 

We will then explore where exactly in the face we put which colour – we will do this by using transparent paper on top of our pencil sketch, hatching the respective areas with pencils. 

Finally we will make a three-layer watercolour image.

This is a brilliant and accessible technique that you could apply to working from either a photograph or even from a person in a live situation. It is a starting point for working with colour and portrait. Our session teaches you the technique that you could apply to a pencil sketch derived from a photograph or from observational drawing. However, our session does NOT teach you these sketching skills. 

In this session learners work sitting at tables. The drawing boards that learners need to bring should not be larger than A3, otherwise their handling on the table is difficult. We suggest that a water container is a large plastic dish the size you might use in the kitchen to mix dough: We don’t need to change the water often for this, and, we can rest our drawing board against it when all is arranged on the table

Learners need to bring the following:

Watercolour paints

A4 watercolour paper

Some sheets of printing paper

If you have: transparent paper, but is not required

Masking tape to tape paper onto board

Loo roll

Drawing board (could be any kind of hard surface not larger than A3)

Water container

Brushes – round ones, sizes 1, 2, 10 and, if you have (but not necessary) a very large one

Pencils 2B

Rubber

Pencil sharpener

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Time/PlacePriceQuantity
Oct 25, 2024 04:00pm - 6:30pm
£22.50
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About the teacher

Sabine Kussmaul

Sabine trained as a fashion designer with the aim to combine a fascination for drawing with the exploration of the sculptural potential of the human figure. After some time...

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