For your class project, you will create a monochrome portrait, with a touch of colour, choosing your favourite art materials and colours to create a portrait that is uniquely yours.

WHAT WE'LL DO:

First we’ll develop our understanding of tonal values to lay the groundwork for creating depth and dimension in our portraits.
Then we’ll explore how to simplify faces to capture the essence of our reference image without being overwhelmed by the detail.
Lastly we’ll paint realistic portraits starting small and simple, and working up to bigger and more detailed pieces.

WHAT YOU NEED:

Paper: Any physical or digital paper will do, so long as it works with whatever colouring materials/mediums you’re using.
Pencil & eraser: Pick your preferred pencil & eraser for sketching your portraits.
“Medium”: Choose your favourite supplies for adding colour, whether it's traditional mediums like watercolors, acrylics, gouache, coloured pens, or digital mediums like Procreate or Photoshop.
Colors: Choose your favourite dark shade, along with a pink or red. You’ll also need a white for highlights. I'm using the colors "Paynes Grey" and "Rose Madder" but you can use whatever you like.

RESOURCES:

For inspiration and more examples of painted portraits, check out this Pinterest board

USEFUL LINKS:

For copyright-free reference images, have a look at these sites:

Supporting classes:

To improve your watercolour skills, why not try my classes on Watercolor Layering or Mindful Watercolor Values, Palettes & Brush Control or Magical Watercolor Flower Paintings 101: The Art of Dispersion

MY LINKS

You can see more of my work on my website, or find me on Pinterest and Instagram, and tag me @shelleyskail to show off your creations!

Paola Fontana

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