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watercolor pet portrait how-to
by：Top-In
2020-08-08
In this Instructure, I will take you through the process I used to paint watercolors for our kitty Sammy.
I don\'t have much experience with watercolors, but you have to start somewhere.
I am currently taking painting classes, so if you are interested in painting pet portraits, I can share with you what I have learned and take you through.
This is Instructable for our lovely cat Sammy.
He\'s about 15 years old. years-
When we took him as a relative, my son and I became very close to this kitten.
That was two years ago.
When I was a teenager, his mother was my cat. when I went to high school to be an exchange student overseas, my parents took my cat as soon as I left. I was heart-broken -
But at Sami\'s age, he felt it was right to do so.
I decided to draw a portrait for him based on the picture I liked him.
After a few days of painting
He was very ill and died.
Just a few weeks ago.
This portrait is a great way to honor a lost pet
Or capture the memory of a living pet.
To start your portrait, first organize your painting and have a palette to put it on.
I only bought my son\'s cheap first grade before I bought watercolors.
It is best to use tube paint.
Please be careful not to squeeze too much.
The best thing about watercolors is how long it lasts!
You only need a small amount (
About the size of the pencil eraser)
Put it on the palette
Put some water in large pots or cups, and also some water in the palette.
You need a lot of water!
Once the paint on the palette dries
It can also be used later.
Just add some water to the brush and mix it on the hardened paint and it can be used again! As a tip -
Please note that \"less is more\" in watercolor painting \".
If you want something that\'s bright-
Be careful where you put the paint or leave that area until later.
I didn\'t overdo the watercolors on the cat\'s nose --
Natural paper makes it look very realistic and highlights in the right position.
I started with the background.
I don\'t like it in the end-
Turn over my picture.
And then don\'t like-
Then do it again.
The end result is a rather dark background.
But I still like the results.
Just note that it\'s hard to remove it once done with watercolor
Especially the way I look at the background repeatedly.
Be sure to pay attention to contrast-
That\'s why it makes your painting look real.
You don\'t need to always draw on an online strip or outline the objects or features of your pet.
If the pet fur is white in a certain area, it is better to make the area around the pet fur darker.
This will help to make the picture pop up more.
Once, I did the most basic thing in the background --
Anyway, I changed this later and then I started painting the cat\'s eyes.
For the eyes, I made a layer of yelloworange.
And then you can see that I made a dark orang-ish color.
I went back to finish it later.
Then I started painting in the basic details of the face I noticed and all the main color areas.
You will want to create a wash first, or paint that is very watered down to cover the main color area.
All you need to do is add a lot of water to this particular color, then take a closer look at the photos and see the area of the pet with this color.
I originally created a gray wash to check the cat\'s body.
Then I drank a drink less.
Wash under the gray (Slightly darker)
Add more details around the body and claws.
If you see shadows in certain areas of the photo, draw it in as you see it. You may think -
\"Wow, it looks weird, I can\'t draw it,\" but don\'t listen to that side of your brain --
Draw it as you can see it.
If there is a large area of white area, do not care about it, because the paper will be displayed in these areas and produce bright white.
Once all the very basic colors are washed with water, then you can go back and wash some areas of your face with another one --
Less water (
Please see the picture).
You will not draw on the details of the fur until later.
When you draw, if you want to make the edges softer, just wet your clean brushes with a little bit of water, apply them on paper along those edges, and then move the brushes to soften them.
Once the main colors are laid out and some details are drawn, you can start painting the fur now.
You can see in the picture I started painting, on the fur of the darker area on my face.
I use less water and paint to create more opaque watercolor effects for fur.
I used a very fine brush and went through the dark hair area first --
Small strokes in the direction of hair growth.
When you start doing this for the first time, you might look at it and think it doesn\'t look right. This is normal.
You really need to continue with your fur painting so it can take shape properly.
It also helps to do more painting and then back about 6 feet away to see from a distance --
This is a huge difference.
In the last photo here, you can see the shape of the top of the head, between the ears --
Very straight and stiff.
At this stage of the painting, it does not look real because in reality he has fur everywhere and it is not so perfect and flat.
Once we continue to paint the fur layer
It looks real.
When I painted the body fur, I first looked at the pictures and looked at the darkest parts of the fur.
Technically, you can save a lot of time if you leave only that part and leave more watercolor look for the painting.
In fact, I really like what it looks like before I coat my body --
But I can\'t go back once I start!
So, for the first time, I painted dark belly fur on the kitten.
Then I went in again, added some water and softened it (
I blacked it out at first).
I then tried to pay attention again to the photos and areas of hair growth and movement, just drawing long brushes for the fur.
I really have some problems showing the white fur of the abdomen
This is why the gouache is very useful and more prominent.
Look at your paintings and see where you are.
Take a look at your photos and constantly compare the details.
When you look at the photo, be sure to find the Darkest Place on the photo.
Make sure you highlight these dark areas by painting them darker than others.
If you add this contrast to them, the eyes will really pop up --
And create deeper lines where needed.
In the end, the beard can be tricky because you want to get them right for the first time.
Practice before you draw!
You will want a good one.
Brush this detail!
Make sure there is enough paint and water to make it easy to flow and produce long strokes.
Finally, be sure to add a shadow anywhere you see the shadow in your photo.
For example, in my portrait, under the head of the cat, you will see that green is darker in certain areas --
This is to show the shadow on his head.
It makes a big difference and helps make your portrait look real.
Back to the area, add fur on the edge-
Be sure to avoid any straight edges (Except ears)-
Where does fur belong?
You draw whatever you see.
I hope this note will help you to draw an awesome pet portrait!
I don\'t have much experience with watercolors, but you have to start somewhere.
I am currently taking painting classes, so if you are interested in painting pet portraits, I can share with you what I have learned and take you through.
This is Instructable for our lovely cat Sammy.
He\'s about 15 years old. years-
When we took him as a relative, my son and I became very close to this kitten.
That was two years ago.
When I was a teenager, his mother was my cat. when I went to high school to be an exchange student overseas, my parents took my cat as soon as I left. I was heart-broken -
But at Sami\'s age, he felt it was right to do so.
I decided to draw a portrait for him based on the picture I liked him.
After a few days of painting
He was very ill and died.
Just a few weeks ago.
This portrait is a great way to honor a lost pet
Or capture the memory of a living pet.
To start your portrait, first organize your painting and have a palette to put it on.
I only bought my son\'s cheap first grade before I bought watercolors.
It is best to use tube paint.
Please be careful not to squeeze too much.
The best thing about watercolors is how long it lasts!
You only need a small amount (
About the size of the pencil eraser)
Put it on the palette
Put some water in large pots or cups, and also some water in the palette.
You need a lot of water!
Once the paint on the palette dries
It can also be used later.
Just add some water to the brush and mix it on the hardened paint and it can be used again! As a tip -
Please note that \"less is more\" in watercolor painting \".
If you want something that\'s bright-
Be careful where you put the paint or leave that area until later.
I didn\'t overdo the watercolors on the cat\'s nose --
Natural paper makes it look very realistic and highlights in the right position.
I started with the background.
I don\'t like it in the end-
Turn over my picture.
And then don\'t like-
Then do it again.
The end result is a rather dark background.
But I still like the results.
Just note that it\'s hard to remove it once done with watercolor
Especially the way I look at the background repeatedly.
Be sure to pay attention to contrast-
That\'s why it makes your painting look real.
You don\'t need to always draw on an online strip or outline the objects or features of your pet.
If the pet fur is white in a certain area, it is better to make the area around the pet fur darker.
This will help to make the picture pop up more.
Once, I did the most basic thing in the background --
Anyway, I changed this later and then I started painting the cat\'s eyes.
For the eyes, I made a layer of yelloworange.
And then you can see that I made a dark orang-ish color.
I went back to finish it later.
Then I started painting in the basic details of the face I noticed and all the main color areas.
You will want to create a wash first, or paint that is very watered down to cover the main color area.
All you need to do is add a lot of water to this particular color, then take a closer look at the photos and see the area of the pet with this color.
I originally created a gray wash to check the cat\'s body.
Then I drank a drink less.
Wash under the gray (Slightly darker)
Add more details around the body and claws.
If you see shadows in certain areas of the photo, draw it in as you see it. You may think -
\"Wow, it looks weird, I can\'t draw it,\" but don\'t listen to that side of your brain --
Draw it as you can see it.
If there is a large area of white area, do not care about it, because the paper will be displayed in these areas and produce bright white.
Once all the very basic colors are washed with water, then you can go back and wash some areas of your face with another one --
Less water (
Please see the picture).
You will not draw on the details of the fur until later.
When you draw, if you want to make the edges softer, just wet your clean brushes with a little bit of water, apply them on paper along those edges, and then move the brushes to soften them.
Once the main colors are laid out and some details are drawn, you can start painting the fur now.
You can see in the picture I started painting, on the fur of the darker area on my face.
I use less water and paint to create more opaque watercolor effects for fur.
I used a very fine brush and went through the dark hair area first --
Small strokes in the direction of hair growth.
When you start doing this for the first time, you might look at it and think it doesn\'t look right. This is normal.
You really need to continue with your fur painting so it can take shape properly.
It also helps to do more painting and then back about 6 feet away to see from a distance --
This is a huge difference.
In the last photo here, you can see the shape of the top of the head, between the ears --
Very straight and stiff.
At this stage of the painting, it does not look real because in reality he has fur everywhere and it is not so perfect and flat.
Once we continue to paint the fur layer
It looks real.
When I painted the body fur, I first looked at the pictures and looked at the darkest parts of the fur.
Technically, you can save a lot of time if you leave only that part and leave more watercolor look for the painting.
In fact, I really like what it looks like before I coat my body --
But I can\'t go back once I start!
So, for the first time, I painted dark belly fur on the kitten.
Then I went in again, added some water and softened it (
I blacked it out at first).
I then tried to pay attention again to the photos and areas of hair growth and movement, just drawing long brushes for the fur.
I really have some problems showing the white fur of the abdomen
This is why the gouache is very useful and more prominent.
Look at your paintings and see where you are.
Take a look at your photos and constantly compare the details.
When you look at the photo, be sure to find the Darkest Place on the photo.
Make sure you highlight these dark areas by painting them darker than others.
If you add this contrast to them, the eyes will really pop up --
And create deeper lines where needed.
In the end, the beard can be tricky because you want to get them right for the first time.
Practice before you draw!
You will want a good one.
Brush this detail!
Make sure there is enough paint and water to make it easy to flow and produce long strokes.
Finally, be sure to add a shadow anywhere you see the shadow in your photo.
For example, in my portrait, under the head of the cat, you will see that green is darker in certain areas --
This is to show the shadow on his head.
It makes a big difference and helps make your portrait look real.
Back to the area, add fur on the edge-
Be sure to avoid any straight edges (Except ears)-
Where does fur belong?
You draw whatever you see.
I hope this note will help you to draw an awesome pet portrait!
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