Watercolor Painting In 2 STEPS - People

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Hi there, Liron here! In this tutorial I'll show you how to paint people in watercolor - in 2 STEPS!
This is a way of looking at it that I find useful - in watercolor we essentially paint the highlights, then the mid-values and ultimately the shadows.
So you could treat the painting process as a 2-3 steps process. It's not necessarily going to be an EASY painting, but it may make the process feel more streamlined and SIMPLE.
Link to reference photo: imgur.com/a/w0...
I hope you enjoy this one!
- Liron
🎨 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
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

[@dougg1075]

This is a goldmine. I’m 54 and would have KILLED to have this kind of instruction back in the day. Beautiful work

[@SketchingRocks]

The "DAY" is still here!!

[@FigsArtsandCrafts]

I appreciate it when you say “let’s try yellow. I don’t know why”. Because it tells me that you are willing to try something regardless of the outcome. If it doesn’t work out then in the next painting you’ll try something different.

[@LironYan]

Exactly! And many times (and you don’t know this in advance) - but every option you would have chose would have worked! So it wasn’t that important of a decision. Maybe the decision to make decisions easily and quickly is the more important one 😉 Thank you 🙏🏼

[@helenem4586]

Seeing the entire process is interesting, so don't even think of skipping any of it. Well done, Liron.

[@jor4288]

helen em I agree.

[@carolynnanctildesign]

This is my favourite of all your videos. I revisit it time and again.

[@LironYan]

Thank you ☺️ So happy to hear

[@jesslynleoni5607]

love your drawing & "whatever happens, happens" mentality :) i used to see making art as if i have to make this perfect masterpiece, but its not, it actually held me back and when you just make whatever and let things be i feel like i learn more from it

[@brianparnell2256]

Seeing the whole process is surely the way to go. People are my nemesis so any instruction is welcome.

[@LironYan]

😊😊 Will do more!!

[@MaisiMacCabe]

I really love the simplicity here. Thanks for sharing this information.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 😊🙏🏼 Very happy you found it useful

[@Saginaw72]

Very dramatic result from an almost whimsical approach to capturing the scene. I become paralyzed when my colors drift from the photo or scene, but watching you helps me let go and just go with it. Great video Liron! I enjoy watching and listening to you as you explain you process.

[@LironYan]

Thank you for watching 😊🙏🏼 Remember there’s always the next painting, so don’t worry if the colors go a little crazy or inaccurate with the current one (;

[@btwilks]

In terms of appealing to, and being helpful to, relative beginners, I think is one of your very best videos, Liron. It has some very definite practical advice regarding technique but also some very astute psychological tips (like slapping a blob of paint down just for the h*ll of it and not worrying in the slightest whether it might ruin the 'perfect product' that we often aim for). All great stuff and thanks for producing all this marvelous material for us all. Best wishes, Brian.

[@franciscocorrea9031]

This

[@ovven1767]

I appreciate it when you describe what you are seeing/feeling/doing instead of just saying 'I'm going with my gut'

[@ruthebowe4624]

I love the way you play and learn from it

[@LironYan]

Thank you! 😊🙏🏼 Best way is to have fun

[@marildetesilva1410]

Yes beautiful

[@jamiew6326]

First time commenting, but I’ve watched several of your videos. This is by far the most helpful video I’ve watched. It was fascinating watching how you put the shadows in hearing your process. And your quote “i didn’t plan on doing this weird thing, but I did it now.” Is the absolute best!

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you ☺️😁 That really how many of my processes go. There’s a lot of magic in being light hearted and enjoying the process while it unfolds. Happy you find it helpful!🙏🏼🎨

[@MemoryOfGravy]

I know this is a couple years old now and you’re probably not looking for this specific feedback anymore, but I wanted to say that I appreciate seeing the whole process. If there’s any part of it I don’t care about or anything that’s taking too long, we can always skip through it or bump the playback speed, so no need to worry. I’d infinitely prefer a full comprehensive walkthrough than end up with a video that skips over a vital part of the process. Thank you for doing what you do for all of us and helping us improve.

[@LironYan]

That’s amazing to know and be reminded of - thank you 😊🙏🏼 So far that’s indeed the overall direction I’ve been taking (:

[@creativesolutions902]

Not boring at all! I can watch this kind of stuff all day, I love how loose watercolor reads realistic and it is so impressionistic

[@LironYan]

So happy to hear, thank you! (:

[@alisonhendry2928]

Wow! This is a fantastic example of controlled looseness! If that is even an accurate description. Fantastic drawing skills to capture so accurately the movement and proportions of the guys walking. And THEN to so rapidly slam colours on and STILL have wonderful lights and darks and movements and shadows and ...... appplause! Love it! I love how you just tell us to go for it and slam out colour and splatter etc too. I need more of that! Thanks Liron! Love your energy!

[@LironYan]

So happy to hear this 😁😁🎨🎨 I love to convey the entire process and everything in it

[@jacqiart9433]

I’ll give figure painting more definition. Thanks for sharing. Awesome!

[@user-en9qd5nx8w]

This was a great exercise. I walked thru the whole process with you. I chose only black for all the shadow work to keep it simple, I liked the way it came out. You have a wonderful "who cares, just do it" attitude towards your art and you translate that energy well. Thank you for all your great instruction.

[@LironYan]

So happy this one worked for you! 🙏

[@crystalbond9394]

It’s so easy to get discouraged and be too critical of yourself, everything has to look perfectly rendered. Thank you for breaking these figures down into steps that make them enjoyable.

[@LironYan]

You got it! 😊 And even if you don’t like something- keep at it and see where it goes - at the very least you’ll learn a lot!

[@engleharddinglefester4285]

This is my favorite kind of watercolor paintings, where the artist works very quickly and and gets the essence down so you know what the painting is about with just a glance. IOW it's not for me the kind of painting I'd spend a lot of time looking at for its details, it's about getting the mood and heat of a hot day at a glance. It's very good imo. It's not about details like an obsessive oil painting, it's about a moment in time.

[@alvax2455]

I love it that you show us through the whole process including the drawing, and all in real time! Thanks a lot!

[@Anniegrazie14]

Artists naturally have a strong gift of intuition, that is drawing according to how they think it feels right. I noticed this when I was younger: i dont have any plans in drawing... things fall into place as I draw. It is ironic that when I tried to learn all the technical steps of drawing too hard, it kills intuition... things becomes so stiff and unnatural lookiing. That is why I apprecite Liron's freedom.... it made me realize that one very important thing I am losing as I try to improve in art. Thank you for this!

[@carysfaerie]

This is honestly fantastic. Contains heaps of simple, yet at the same time, very difficult-to-apply advice. I was taught to ‘take care’ of my belongings..so much so that I actually found a few notebooks I had kept (just came as free gifts with comics) from when I was about 6 to 8yrs old. I’m 42 now. They were untouched- I hadn’t even used one piece of paper; because although I loved them; I was ‘keeping them “for best” ‘ Learning to let go is so difficult to do when your brain has been conditioned to treasure everything; a little too much. ❤️

[@leahferrell3110]

I enjoyed this so much. I drew and painted along with you, even though I have never drawn or painted a person. I think it turned out pretty well and I learned a lot in the process, including how to grab a lot of colors really quickly.

[@DrBandwidth]

Not boring, your a great teacher

[@enderwiggin8947]

Wow!

[@priyajoshi4838]

this is one of the most helpful tutorials for watercolours, and simplifying shadows on clothes is exactly what I wanted to learn! Thank you so much, amazing video ❤

[@yvonnesims8765]

Love watching the sketching and painting.

[@heatherarnold92]

Just ordered your paperback how to sketch people. I’m really excited because this is the approach I want to take sketch and get the mood/ movement of the person and then eventually apply to watercolor painting. I already have your how to sketch book and I love how clear it is written! So enjoying your channel your art is incredible- found you thru Tom shepherd art KZbin channel

[@-Chunk]

Looks brilliant. Artful.

[@hermanirascible3310]

Yes, showing right from the sketching stage is most helpful!

[@ds755]

I like seeing how you draw and choosing the colors and making the connection of shapes with the rest of the painting.

[@deannerader6527]

Inspiring! Tomorrow I need to take time to paint people!

[@jazmarz]

So cool. Easy one two. BAM!!!

[@cherigreen4471]

I love this especially the fluidity and the light and shadow! It is so helpful. I really enjoy your tutorials, great job.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 😊🙏🏼

[@MedaHalmaciu]

Lovely! Looks so simple when you do it, but I'm scared to even try.

[@gradedwash]

Fear of failure. I've found I can paint to expect failure and then I don't fail that often because I don't care if I do so much, Hope that helps.

[@WC100]

I'm painting watercolor in Korea I like your portrait expression I always watch 고마워요 나의 그림친구

[@LironYan]

Thank you my friend 😊🙏🏼 Happy to have you here!

[@sketchingjohn1852]

Liron, it will be great to see where your art goes in a more realistic style. For all of us, it is too easy to get stuck and think "well, this is the best I can do." Can't wait to see your progress. Nothing at all wrong with what you are doing now, but we all push forward.

[@LironYan]

Thank you my friend 😊🙏🏼 That’s exactly my mindset!! I love what I currently produce, and aspire for more simultaneously! A balance I wish for everyone (:

[@barbaragemin5117]

You're full of surprises Liron. Very interesting how the approach changed from your figures with highlights. You said your figures were not accurate. Yeah? Really? They were so believable. GREAT figures. I noticed you NEVER copy the same colours from your reference photos, but they still work. For me it's counterintuitive- we all tend to want to replicate the colours.

[@LironYan]

Thank you ☺️ They had some minor inaccuracies, but definitely conveyed the message I was after! And yes - there are many ways to go about this - I want to have the ABILITY to render something with great accuracy (so perhaps matching the colors too), because that ability will translate to my more impressionistic pieces (which is what I’m ultimately after). I hope that makes sense (:

[@elizabethschopen6914]

One of the best videos you've shown us as far as the process goes. Tremendously helpful! Thank you👏👏👏

[@lindathaxton1994]

Love ur process

[@suzannestevens8257]

I think your personality enhances the demo. Its the best one I've seen, the most inspiring. Thks.

[@katherinegeorgiou8811]

Loved this demo. Pfffffff not worry? I always worry the sketch, the exact colour, lights, darks and sharp edges or soft. I almost gave up but I’m in love with this medium. Keep videos like this coming, very helpful. 👍👍👍👍🌺

[@LironYan]

😊🙏🏼

[@janicetio1219]

Definitely not boring.

[@hornjan8258]

It looks very effortless in your demonstration. But when you draw and paint yourself, you quickly realize that a highly qualified professional is at work here.

[@patlatour2465]

❤I remember one painting I did with you,the girl on a horse it was so much fun when you spattered and added the background it was then that I thought I’m going to try this. Color choice are cool lovely tutorial, thank you for sharing. Fun sketching too.😊

[@donartcorner5248]

Super! Thanks for the informative video. It is great that you show the initial drawing process. Too often on watercolor videos they start after the initial drawing is completed. So, it looks like they are just filling in a coloring book. The drawing part is at least 50% of getting a watercolor right. Please keep showing the drawing part.

[@barbarahowell5438]

This works. Love it!

[@rashmitamhankar853]

Nice painting. Really we have fun . I will try. Thanks a lot for sharing this.

[@anilkumargundurao7239]

Your videos are the best youtube for watercolour painting. Please keep doing loads more with realistic photos and also the creative ones. BIG THANKS

[@oceanvali]

you are once again inspiring me to TRY....thank you

[@sandrajohnson2489]

You always make everything look easy! Love your work.

[@embaaj]

An enjoyable and rewarding experience as always.Ur joy while painting the self conciousness about ur way of doing things. This is what makes it fun to be taught. An infectious gaiety pervades. Need more like u. Hope u never stop teaching or lose this spirit.

[@LironYan]

Thank you so so much 😊🙏🏼 Hopefully I can do this for the rest of my life (:

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

Beautiful movement. I think your study of anatomy is paying off big time. Would love to see a redress of this subject...new thoughts included. As i look at these paintings i almost expect them to move. (Something i never accomplished in oil.)

[@caroann]

This absolutely helps me. Thank you. ❤️

[@LironYan]

Amazing, thank you so much for watching 🙏😊

[@ericjoseph2122]

This channel is gold

[@jahirhasan5740]

Very nice water colour .....too much beautiful ....superb

[@costintoma1891]

amazing !

[@stephaniewright4719]

Love this loose relaxed style. It is my goal. Thank you Liron.

[@Tara00011]

So very helpful Liron. Thank you!

[@jillscheffer459]

That looks amazing...you make it look so easy! I'm gonna give it go with extremely low expectations! Lol....I'll try to loosen up...

[@tarias_sketchy_adventures]

This is excellent Liron, thank you. Exactly the sort of information I was looking for to improve my people sketching. Nothing boring at all, please always show the whole process! :)

[@tomeetomee4913]

real time ,thoughtful dialogue,very helpful for this beginner . Watercolor seems to be about values first ,if im understanding the process. don't understand the splatter but this is a lesson ill be watching again. thanks tom

[@LironYan]

Haha the splatter was just randomness for the sake of showing how it’s POSSIBLE to make something work even if you break your plan, or by deliberately taking risks!

[@marildetesilva1410]

Beautiful yes

[@livinginmexico]

Always great to watch your videos, and NO part is ever boring. I love the transformation from "I don't think this is going to work" to "wow" that is great. Thanks again!

[@LironYan]

Thank you 😁😁🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@billfoliaco3112]

Very nice, and an artist always is able to make his craft seem effortless. Even if we they know that art can be torture, it should also be fun.

[@judylangmuir3600]

Fabulous!!!🎉

[@wolfgangbenfattoum8137]

As always, easy and quick to follow with great result. Thanks heaps.

[@LironYan]

Thank you ☺️ So happy this one is helpful!

[@ianjackson5834]

this simple approach works in so many ways , thanks Liron

[@carolatchley3797]

This was so fun! Please continue to show the steps when drawing people. It was interesting when you commented that sometimes we see things differently. You made a comment about a color of the clothes, and I didn't see it that way. I guess it's like taste buds, each one can be different.

[@LironYan]

Haha indeed! We all notice different things, which makes is also accentuate and exaggerate different elements (:

[@marisangiovanni]

Really great technique! Thanks for posting and your teaching!

[@plumsystar]

That was really great. I love your commentary. Your fun to spend time with. I will try some of tips you mentioned.

[@sharonlabarge4115]

Thank you , this really helped me, Sharon, Missouri USA

[@susanjerrell9220]

I enjoyed watching your video and painting style. I appreciate that you show the reference photo too. I learned quite a lot from this and I hope you don't change anything about how you show us what you do. Thanks so much.

[@starmazaheri7448]

Loved it. Thank you so very much🌹

[@barbwhite6217]

This may be my favorite video. It really makes sense now!

[@LironYan]

Thank you so much 😊🙏🏼

[@benbasile6471]

LOve your start to finish thanks

[@manjirapaul4202]

Beautiful painting. It was fun to watch you because I think I feel like you felt.... To break loose... Most of the time. But I am so scared of spoiling my work, wasting a good quality paper and so on and so forth. But I related to your style in so many ways.... My paintings appear to"by the rule' to me. I shall try and overcome my fears now. 🎉

[@harpstudios6046]

Ty for inspiring me to do watercolor again :))

[@roberthoward6646]

Thank you for this demonstration, and for sharing your creative thoughts. Your enthusiasm is inspiring!

[@Kyoreito]

Thank you so much for sharing this with us ❤️❤️❤️

[@mikedonovan8564]

Just subscribed and bought your book. Looking forward to the journey!

[@florafauna5913]

Loved this demo; came out better than I expected. I am finally starting to understand how to paint people in a scene, no longer afraid to try and I am enjoying it!! (I can do this ?!) thank you, Liron

[@LironYan]

That is AMAZING! Take that energy and make something spectacular 😁👏👏

[@suecook5416]

Many thanks for sharing this Liron, I'll give it a try.

[@LironYan]

You got it 😊 Let me know how it goes!

[@Opel314]

Just tried this out. Enjoyed the process and the result! Thanks for posting.

[@bigooboczky5382]

Great demo's. You convey "how to" better than most of the KZbin's.

[@marievanderwijk9845]

Very good information! Light shadow and loose! I get anxious watching your process trying to keep up and wondering how can he get those results? But you do amazing work, thank you for sharing!

[@LironYan]

Haha thank you so much Marie! 😊🙏🏼 It’s no magic! Just some experience and focus. You can do it too

[@judyonody7748]

Fantastic! I love this method!!

[@rashmivaidya6491]

So original! Love love love it🤩

[@leaa8888]

Amazing video. Thank youu so much

[@lindathaxton1994]

Going to work to do this process - thank you for sharing

[@vrastel]

I love It!

[@easydrawingpaintingvideosb2658]

very nice painting

[@nataliem3504]

Wonderful video and absolutely not boring. Please keep it up 😊

[@monopinion8799]

Looks quite realistic to me. Thank you 🙏.

[@BacalaoBrad]

Very nice

[@lillyshelton8224]

You did a great job I like looseness in paintings.👌

[@saydvoncripps]

You deserve more likes. You know your art well.

[@LironYan]

Thank you ☺️

[@karenfox4432]

So effective!..thanks for sharing x

[@LironYan]

Happy I could help, thank you! 😊🙏🏼

[@SilvijaM]

Loved it, thanks! Loosing up part was a very good reminder :)

[@LironYan]

Happy I could help 😊🙏🏼 Thank you for watching!