How to Paint REALISTIC People - No Gimmicks!

Frustrated with watercolor? Solution here - bit.ly/2mDpOHN
Beginners' Drawing Course: bit.ly/2Gn4rOIDrawYT
My Art and Creativity PODCAST:
goo.gl/uGLjdk
Instagram: / lironyanil
My books on Amazon: www.amazon.com/Liron-Yankonsky...
Snapchat: LironYan3
In today's lesson I'll teach you how to paint REAL PEOPLE, meaning how to get rid of gimmicks and auto-pilot painting, and avoid using a red dot for the face 😂
We'll carefully observe the reference and try to provide a more accurate & authentic expression of what it looks like.
Enjoy! ^_^
Link to reference photo:
imgur.com/a/e9T33tM
🎨 MATERIALS I OFTEN USE 🎨
Paints (all Daniel Smith)
Phthalo Blue (Red Shade) - amzn.to/2FCuEvA
Ultramarine Blue - amzn.to/2FCvicu
Nickel Azo Yellow - amzn.to/2HW5Ik3
Perylene Red - amzn.to/2HUc1Ve
Quinacridone Rose
Brushes
Escoda Ultimo Sintetico - Size 16 - amzn.to/3043xSw
Silver Black Velvet - amzn.to/2JCnSJZ
Raphael - amzn.to/2Wo71wb (multiple sizes and sellers)
Princeton - amzn.to/2YoSHpa
Paper
Saunders Waterford, 300gsm, cold-press - amzn.to/2WrdTZU
White Pen
Uniball Signo White Gel Pen (easy to find on ebay!)
** MUSIC CREDITS **
Music by Joakim Karud / joakimkarud
Music by @joakimkarudmusic

[@karenmorris2913]

Bravo! Hoo-ra! I don’t care what “master” painted them, I hate the stick people or the ones with wonky legs. I love a loose style, but so glad you’re incorporating real people into your own. You go, Liron. You will be the best!

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you so so much 😁🙏🏼🙏🏼 I sometimes get tired of the stick people too 😂 Which is exactly why I’m trying to move in that direction! I’m happy this resonates with you 🙏🏼🎨

[@Wal48]

Your loose style is a revelation to me. Your fresh bright results are a million times better than my careful overworked efforts. You are inspiring me to be looser and more expressive, but it’s a real battle for me! Hope you keep doing these so I keep being inspired.

[@artbyeliza8670]

I'm impressed that you can talk and draw/paint at the same time!

[@cookingdownsouthwithcarol8909]

I think a lot of people, if they are like me, love your personality. You are so honest, and laid back. Of course, your tutorials are great, and I love your style! But it takes more than a great artist to keep people coming back. One thing I don't like is an arrogant attitude, and you don't have that. Thank you for your time, and for sharing your talent! Love your people!

[@donnagoode6923]

his humility and honesty are very refreshing, especially considering how talented he is.

[@susannew.-g.4230]

I love how you painted the woman on the left! Thank you for sharing 🥰

[@artbyeliza8670]

You are my favourite watercolour painter.

[@depp3991]

I self-taught myself by reading art books and watching your videos. I saw some comments people wrote on the technique you’re using. I really think your work for this one came out really nice. Cant wait to try this one

[@donnagoode6923]

I really appreciate how direct to the point your videos are. Thank you

[@monopinionestcelle-ci6650]

So amazing to watch you painting people in so little details yet looking quite real compared to me taking all possible details and hew, values to replicate the exact image. Your amazing!

[@TheLeahsKitchen]

the figures came out nicely - I love the way you connect blocks of color

[@LironYan]

Thank you ☺️ Always trying to make these connections

[@dwellinj1513]

I appreciate that you explain as you go but also admit when something is intuitive and go with that. This was very informative.

[@maryvernau9500]

Excellent! Thank you Liron! 👏❤️👏

[@Handotr]

I liked when you said “ it’s not a perfect figure but it’s mine”. Made perfect sense. I just completed a value study for this reference and I’m about to attempt a color version. The figures are not perfect, but they’re mine.

[@LironYan]

Awesome work! 😁 You can do this, make it yours!

[@thelmablake7045]

Beautifully executed Liron!

[@jenfleming9412]

Love love love your work. Your people are so real and amazing.

[@rocsalt956]

I've been addicted to watching your videos! It's hard not to get intimidated after seeing your finished product, but I got my paints set out and I'm gonna give it a go!

[@virginiahouse1456]

This is 2 years late, but impressed with the painting but the couple-- gentleman looks great, but the lady's legs would drive me crazy looking at them. My attention is immediately drawn to her legs. I truly enjoy your videos. Thank you. Lots of help for this 80 year old.

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😁 Haha yeah I may have messed up some of the legs 😂 Gotta be a little more careful with the details

[@ARTYCOATY]

Awesome painting! You have talent.

[@cherylcameron3316]

I’m so glad I found you!

[@lenns_artwork]

wow,what nice watercolor painting . And you started it good by doing the sketch first etc till the end the process very clear.Nice watercolor tutorial,especially how to paint the people and the shadow on the ground,make ke painting alive and more real,well done,Liron💙💙💙

[@dianecharest8365]

I love watching you paint. Very interesting and another good one. Thank you for sharing your process.

[@helenem4586]

That's great, Liron. You've captured the movement of the figure in the foreground beautifully.

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😊🙏🏼 got half lucky half skilled with that figure on the left 😂🎨 The leg turned out exactly as I wanted

[@helenem4586]

@@LironYan It's marvellous when that happens, and then you want to recall clearly what it felt like and what exactly you did to make it work and apply that same energy to make other things work. It can be elusive and frustrating.

[@sandrajohnson2489]

I really enjoy watching your videos and I learn from you. I watch other ones too but yours are the most interesting. Thank you for sharing your awesome talent!!!

[@cherigreen4471]

That was really well done! Loved the people in the foreground!

[@LironYan]

Thank you Cheri! 😊🙏🏼

[@barbarafrohlich1984]

Great stuff!👍🏻

[@chesapeake4797]

I think the more realistic and detailed figures draw the eye in a powerful way where the impressionistic figures make the figures part of an overall ambiance. So it's a crutch if you use the impressionistic technique in the wrong context, and likewise a realistic figure can mess up other contexts.

[@LironYan]

YES! That’s a great way of thinking about it. This is why for the background I did simplify greatly. However - I do think there’s a way to have the figures be a part of the ambiance and scene without using this “crutch”. It’s a tight balance, perhaps a topic to explore in a future video (:

[@paulavish5482]

Thank you so much, sir. This was so helpful.

[@turquesaportela7]

Você é muito bom!!!! Estou apaixonada por seu trabalho!!!! (You are the best!!!! I am in love with your work!!!!)

[@joycarvalho6908]

Simply awesome

[@stickerooni]

Loved this! Very nice!

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏼

[@judyfranklin9577]

Thank you Liron for a very informative demonstration . I am trying to improve on my people so this was very helpful .

[@LironYan]

So happy this came at the right timing! (: Thank you 😊🙏🏼

[@pranjalshelar3830]

Simply amazing😍🤩👍

[@luigigalieni4348]

You are criticizing Alvaro Castagnet and Joseph Zbukvic calling them "gimmicks": it's a quite bold statement! You're brave! :) I like this painting and your teachings, but I'd suggest more accuracy on perspective. On this subject, I really love James Gurney's youtube channel: it's very inspiring about daily scenes and drawing proportions.

[@LironYan]

Haha, when THEY do it (Joseph and Alvaro) - It’s NOT a gimmick. It’s their true and authentic expression. Not to mention they each do people differently. My problem is when *I* paint them like they do, out of habit / laziness 😉 And yes - I love James Gurney too, he’s a true master of pretty much everything - realism, impressionism as well as illustration!! 😁

[@krisbarber6208]

Loved this loose architectural work. I have lots of NYC and DC pictures from trips. I’m going to pull them out. Thanks.

[@suecarrel]

My favorite urban landscape! People filled! And you created movement in that woman on the left by letting the back leg sort of disappear!

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😁😁🙏🏼

[@alinamartinez4280]

love it! you are so very good! thank you for teaching us. ;) would love to see you paint the St. Michel monastery in france with the change of tides. i bet you would do a great painting! thank u again

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much ☺️ I will actually paint it for next week, following your comment! I have a really good idea for a video topic it will be perfect for 😁😊🙏🏼 Thank you 🎨

[@stevesloan5935]

It's so hard, temperamentally, for me to be that loose, but I like your finished piece. I'm a James Gurney fan, and being familiar with many of his published pieces, it took me quite a while not to be shocked or "cringe" at how he covers a plein air sketch with broad swipes of colors that run everywhere, blend into each other, and seem to totally ignore the sketch lines. He gets a beautiful result though! I'm putting it on my list for this year to do some painting like this. Good job, and it's a great attitude not to "phone it in" when rendering a number of people.

[@EliJ.888]

Very nice!

[@glorioskiola]

Great job with this! Thanks so much!

[@LironYan]

You got it! 😊🙏🏼 Thank you for watching

[@nanthilrodriguez]

great lesson

[@ShamilaArt]

Hi Liron, I just wanted to thank you for your "Frustration Free Watercolor Course" :) I've been painting with watercolors for a while, and your course helped me to clarify some things, it is very enjoyable and easy to follow. Really valuable, I recommend it to anyone.

[@donnagoode6923]

Shamila! stavo leggendo i commenti ed eccoti! Mi ha sorpreso tanto perche sei te stesso una grande artista dell'acquarello.... bffff, mio italiano bleh. Comunque, tu e Liron siete i miei artisti dell'acquarello preferiti. Ciao bella :-)

[@ShamilaArt]

@@donnagoode6923 grazie di cuore!! Il bello della pittura e dell'acquerello è che c'è sempre da imparare. Trovo molto stimolante fare corsi e vedere come diversi artisti usano l'acquerello in modi sempre diversi!

[@donatfairs204]

Great eye for creativity. Wondering

[@rozbridals]

Awesome- thankyou

[@alext8828]

The girl walking came out great. Unbelievable.

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😁 A stroke of luck 😂😉🎨

[@marthajacobo3519]

Wow, great video. Q tips can be used for straight lines if a tissue might not work 😊

[@LironYan]

Great idea I keep forgetting!! 😂

[@DTCiioTV]

Awesome

[@annettedawes5755]

Liron can you please explain how to decide the size of the figures - thankyou

[@khaiber_kakar]

Thanks, your Videos have been so helpful. Do you remember which Paper you have used here for the thumbnails? The surface looks so interesting.

[@denisebrazell1912]

Please forgive my typo...I did not mean moron but, Liron. I think your direction and presentations are wonderful. Thank you

[@Drumaier]

Liron, great video as is always the case. What do you you think about if the background buildings would have been treated wet in wet with very soft edges, and less tonal contrast? So bringing the focus only to the sharp people. I personally think that would really sell this painting since is not common to see people this well defined in watercolors, but the buildings are competing for attention i feel. I might be wrong of course, just sharing my thoughts in case can it have some use for future paintings. Cheers.

[@ngocthaodrawing]

So helpful video.

[@LironYan]

So happy it helps ☺️ Thank you for watching my friend!

[@stu7610]

Nice work. Love your videos. I would love to see you try and do a video on the more impressionistic figures? I like your voice overs. Realistic ones are very nice but sometimes you end up with an overworked look. I know you said you dont like that impressionistic look but its good to have a lot of "knots to your bow" So to speak. Also would you fancy doing a video swap? I'll paint one of your paintings and you do one of mine? Just an idea. We as KZbin artists could share viewers like comedians do. Just an idea I had

[@IMAGINENGINE]

Thank you for your ‘no gimmicks’ method. Especially for teaching vs forcing us to watch sped up videos and listen to awful music.

[@jeremybunn8473]

Hi Liron. Great video. What is that white pen you used to add some final detail please? Are they easy to find?

[@maddalenamarchetti1861]

Bravissimo

[@LironYan]

😊🙏🏼

[@otodidact6134]

Great video, enjoyed it thank you!

[@LironYan]

Thank you for watching! 🙏🏼🙏🏼😊

[@otodidact6134]

@@LironYan 😎👍

[@nathaliahiatt4366]

Love this video111

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏼

[@brucemckenziefraser139]

Hi, greetings from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍 Another great teaching session that covers one of my weaker skills. Btw, what's the name of the palette that you're using in the video? 🤔

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏼 The palette is a Mijello 18 wells airtight (:

[@rameshwortandukar]

Thanks for the video Liron. How important is it for you to keep the level of heads of the figures in a same line?

[@LironYan]

Thank you for watching! 😊🙏🏼 This will depend on multiple factors, but basically - if the street is leveled and not in a slope, and if the people are of the same height - then yes, it’s important for me (: If someone’s shorter, or we’re going uphill or downhill, you may see more variation. I hope this makes sense! EDIT: and I forgot to mention something key - that’s also only if we view the scene from a person’s viewpoint/ height. If you’re looking at a scene from above or below, it will great change that as well. I may do a quick video on the topic to clarify (:

[@jlgordon96]

I was really confused at first because i recognized that location but couldnt put my finger on it then when you said k mart i immediately realized that it’s astor place.

[@alessandroloizzi]

Similar Alvaro Castagnet style

[@spitalhelles3380]

Ok dumb question, how do you get those perfect dimensions and 90° angles on your taping?

[@LironYan]

Haha interesting question! It’s something that gradually improved for me. I taped so many paintings, and you do 4 sides for each. So your eyes get accustomed really fast to recognizing parallels & small distances (:

[@frelseren1]

Hei artist:-) You are doing better and batter.

[@LironYan]

Thank you Sten! 😁🙏🏼

[@barbaragemin5117]

Great! you seem to have a sense of the human figure.

[@LironYan]

It’s still a big challenge, especially when more of the anatomy shows - but I’m slowly learning and improving (: It’s a challenge at any level of proficiency 😊✏️

[@donatfairs204]

Is 100% cotton paper better than pulp type. ?

[@Drumaier]

Yes, a lot better mostly for soft edges wet in wet, but also generally speaking is superior in every aspect. All the successful watercolor artists use only 💯 cotton. I don't know even of one exception.

[@Bushy-73]

Frank Clarke paints people as carrots

[@LironYan]

Haha the carrots method can work really well for simplifying 😂 I show it in my book on sketching people

[@carlosn5285]

Love it! Thank you!

[@cyendsj]

Liron, what is that white marker that you use? Is it liquid color pen or some kind of white marker?

[@LironYan]

It’s a Uniball Signo white gel pen! (: Can be found on ebay and Amazon!

[@virginia-marieparker6325]

What part of this was a “how to”?!!

[@drmidnight680-kz2le]

Your explanation makes no sense, it's all irrelevant and extremely anoing

[@susannew.-g.4230]

I love how you painted the woman on the left! Thank you for sharing 🥰

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏼 I love that swoosh haha 😁 Got lucky

[@dougg1075]

Awesome

[@stevegreenfield6631]

Thank you. I enjoy watching your loose background wash evolve. And of course, your people look great.

[@LironYan]

Thank you Steve! ☺️🙏🏼