Drawing Portraits with Watercolor Pencils: A Step-by-Step Guide

Unlock the beauty of portrait drawing with watercolor pencils! In this guide, we'll explore essential techniques, tools, and practical examples to help you create stunning portraits, whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your skills.
By Taylor

Getting Started with Watercolor Pencils

Watercolor pencils are fantastic tools for creating portraits because they combine the precision of traditional pencils with the vibrant effects of watercolor. Let’s break down the process step-by-step!

Tools You’ll Need

  • Watercolor Pencils: A good set of watercolor pencils in a variety of skin tones.
  • Watercolor Paper: Choose a thick, textured paper that can handle water without warping.
  • Brushes: A round brush for blending and a flat brush for washes.
  • Water Container: For rinsing your brushes.
  • Pencil Sharpener: To keep your pencils sharp for detailed work.
  • Eraser: A kneaded eraser is ideal for lightening areas.

Step 1: Sketching the Portrait

Before using your watercolor pencils, start with a light sketch.

Example:

  1. Draw an Oval: Lightly sketch an oval shape for the head.
  2. Add Guidelines: Draw a vertical line down the middle and a horizontal line across the middle to help place the facial features.
  3. Place Features: Mark the position of the eyes, nose, and mouth along the guidelines.

Step 2: Adding Base Colors

Choose a base color for the skin tone and lightly apply it with your watercolor pencil.

Example:

  • Skin Tone: If your subject has a fair complexion, use a light peach color. For a medium complexion, try a light brown. Apply the color gently, building up layers for depth.
  • Shading: Use a slightly darker color (like a warm beige) around the edges of the face, under the chin, and in areas that naturally have shadows (like under the cheekbones).

Step 3: Blending with Water

Once you’ve applied the colors, it’s time to activate them with water to create a smooth look.

Example:

  1. Dampen Your Brush: Dip your round brush into the water and wipe off any excess.
  2. Blend: Start from the lightest area and gently blend the pencil marks. Move outward to avoid harsh lines. This will give your portrait a soft, painted look.

Step 4: Detailing the Features

After blending the base colors, it’s time to add details to the eyes, lips, and hair.

Example:

  • Eyes: Use a darker pencil for the iris and a lighter one for highlights. Remember to blend the colors but leave the highlight area untouched.
  • Lips: Choose a pink or red pencil for the lips, apply it, and blend lightly to keep it vibrant.
  • Hair: Use various shades to add dimension to the hair. Start with a base color and apply darker shades for shadows, blending them together.

Step 5: Final Touches

Now that your portrait is taking shape, it’s time to refine your work.

Example:

  • Highlights: Use an eraser to pick out highlights on the forehead, nose, and cheekbones for a more three-dimensional look.
  • Background: Consider adding a subtle wash of color behind the portrait using a flat brush dipped in a light wash of color to make the subject stand out.

Conclusion

Drawing portraits with watercolor pencils is a rewarding experience that allows for creativity and expression. With practice, you’ll develop your style and improve your techniques. Remember, every artist starts somewhere, so enjoy the process and have fun! Happy drawing!