Have you ever wondered how to express the gentle unevenness of feathers, soft fur and hairs in your portrait artwork? Join me as we take our first steps into the captivating realm of realistic portrait painting.

In this quick but informative class, you will set the first step to an expressive, realistic portrait with a magical touch. Together, we'll unravel the secrets of crafting smooth surfaces, free from harsh lines—a cornerstone for portraying both human and animal subjects. Our journey begins with an adorable subject: the yellow duckling. Through focused instruction, we'll learn how to paint its soft, fluffy down against a white background and seamlessly integrate it into a painted setting.

Through a series of engaging exercises, we'll master fundamental techniques such as wet-on-wet, drawing with water, and lifting paint on dry paper. You'll discover the power of contrast as we accentuate the softness of our subject against the defined contours of a terracotta pot. We will explore techniques of expressing textures further by aging terracotta surface, adding a touch of rustic charm to our compositions.

In our exploration of color, you'll not only learn which hues are essential for this class but also how to mix your own natural greens—perfect for enhancing landscape and nature paintings.

Thank you so much for exploring this class!

I’ve been a professional watercolorist for many years now, and been fortunate enough to take part in art exhibitions around the world and to win awards from highly regarded art organizations. I am grateful that my watercolors are in private collections all around the world. My style is realistic with a magical touch. I encourage experimenting, using varied watercolor techniques and painting in your own style.

In this class, you will learn:

Painting soft fluffy down and hair
Creating smooth surfaces
Seamlessly integrating soft hair into a painted background
Drawing with water technique
Mixing natural greens
Harnessing the power of contrast
Painting an aged terracotta pot
Completing a yellow duckling artwork

By the end of this class, you'll have mastered the art of painting soft, fluffy down and hair, setting the first step towards creating expressive, artistic, and realistic portraits. By utilizing techniques such as wet-on-wet and drawing with water, you'll render soft hair and locks convincingly in your paintings.

So, grab your paints and brushes, and join me on this artistic journey full of creativity and discovery! Let's unlock the secrets of painting soft, fluffy hair together. I can't wait to begin!

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Nata Likso

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