In this class I will guide you through painting an expressive portrait in watercolour, focusing on the beautiful contrast between softness and boldness. We will paint delicate, luminous skin tones with gentle transitions, then balance that with confident, painterly marks in the hair and clothing to create a portrait that feels alive without being overworked.

We will simplify the head into big shapes and a clear value plan, then use warm and cool shifts to bring the skin to life. Wet into wet will soften transitions, glazing will build gentle depth, and a few well placed crisp accents will guide the eye to the features. The aim is to capture character without heaviness, letting the paint stay fresh, expressive and unforced.

If you are a beginner, you are still very welcome here. You can paint along in a simplified way, focusing on the silhouette, the skin transitions, and a few key accents, or you can simply watch and absorb techniques that will make every future portrait easier.

In this class you will learn:

How to design a portrait using big shapes and a simple value map
How to mix convincing skin tones using warm and cool colour temperature shifts
How to use wet into wet and glazing to create softness and depth
How to paint hair as rhythm and texture, not individual strands
How to control edges, keeping some lost and some decisive for focus
How to use selective accents to keep the likeness clear without overworking

Join me and learn how a portrait can feel both refined and free, with expressive brushwork supported by calm structure.

Thank you so much for your interest in this class!

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Try this class to explore your creativity...

I’ve been painting for many years now, taken part in many exhibitions around the world and won awards from well respected organisations. As well as having my work feature in art magazines. After having success selling my originals and 1000s of prints around the world, I decided to start traveling with my brushes and paintings. My style is modern and attempts to grasp the essence of what I’m painting whilst allowing freedom and expression to come through. I simplify complicated subjects into easier shapes that encourages playfulness.

You'll Learn:

What materials and equipment to need to painting along
Basic technique to complete your first painting
How to avoid common mistakes
Choosing the right colours for your painting
How to blend colours and create textures for different effects
Making corrections and improvements
Finishing touches that make a big difference

When enrolled, I’ll include my complete ‘Watercolour Mixing Charts’. These are a huge aid for beginners and experts alike. They show what every colour on the palette looks like when mixed with each other. Indispensable when it comes to choosing which colour to mix.

Don’t forget to follow me on Skillshare. Click the “follow” button and you’ll be the first to know as soon as I launch a new course or have a big announcement to share with my students.

Additional Resources:

Here are the art supplies I recommend
Follow me on Instagram
Check out my website

Music by Audionautix.com

Ika Zuzu

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