How to Paint a Portrait in Watercolor | Beginner Friendly
Today we're painting Elvis - and before you freak out and say "I can't paint portraits!" or "I can't draw!", hold up. I set this whole thing up so that literally ANYONE can do it. If you can color inside the lines, you can paint this portrait. I'm serious.
We're using the notan method, which means we're starting with just the darkest darks and the lightest lights, then adding in some grays. No complicated drawing, no stressing about proportions - just paint what you see in each shape.
In this tutorial, I'm walking you through:
Starting with a notan study to map out the darks and lights of Elvis's face
Adding middle grays to build dimension and make the portrait come to life
Why you don't need drawing skills for this - if you can color inside the lines, you're good
How the notan method breaks down a complex portrait into simple, manageable shapes
Building confidence with portraits by removing the scary drawing part
This is probably the most accessible portrait tutorial I've ever done. I wanted to prove that portraits don't have to be intimidating or require years of drawing practice. The notan approach strips away all the complexity and just lets you focus on values and shapes. And honestly? It's pretty wild how well it works.
Reference Photo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-18W...
Supplies I'm Using:
Grab my complete basic supply list here: https://traige.my.canva.site/basic-su...
Share Your Artwork!
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