Watercolor Portraits: Combining Realism and the Abstract

Discover how artist and illustrator, Melissa Lee Shaw, combines realism and abstract textures to infuse her watercolor portraits with a sense of wonder and whimsy. In this 47-minute class, you’ll learn her step-by-step process for creating beautiful watercolor portraits, including various tips and tricks she's picked up along the way, as well as her own personal philosophy on creativity and making art. 

All levels of skill are welcome, whether you’ve never used watercolors before or have been using them for years. 

By the end of the class, you will be ready to create your own colorful watercolor portrait, and hopefully be inspired to use the skills you learned for future watercolor projects.

• Introduction
• Gathering Materials
• Setting Up Your Workspace
• Using References
• Stretching Your Paper
• Watercolor Techniques: Flat and Graded Washes
• Watercolor Techniques: Crisp Edges, Lifting, and Paper Types
• Watercolor Techniques: Texturing with Salt, Plastic Wrap, and Rubbing Alcohol
• Sketching Your Portrait
• Painting The Face
• Painting the Abstract Elements
• Final Thoughts