How to sketch a PORTRAIT for beginners (Step-by-step ink & watercolor TUTORIAL)

Ink sketching portraits can be challenging! I'll show you my easy technique.
PATREON - Learn more!
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(In-depth tutorials, templates, references & feedback)
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SKETCHING MATERIALS:
Uni-Ball Vision (Micro 0.5mm)
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Stillman & Birn Beta Series Sketchbook 7”x7” wire bound
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Posca Fine Marker White
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Winsor & Newton Round Brushes (6)
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Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolors (placed in a Kuretake Palette):
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(But only these colours in my palette: Cadmium Yellow Hue/Cadmium Orange Hue/Cadmium Red Hue/Permanent Rose/Purple Lake/Dioxazine Purple/Ultramarine/Prussian Blue/Viridian Hue/Emerald/Sap Green/Yellow Ochre/Burnt Umber/Burnt Sienna/Paynes Gray)
-The above affiliate links earns me a tiny commission at no extra cost to you!
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CHAPTERS:
00:00
#drawingtutorial #sketching #lineandwash
#sketchingscottie

[@AndreaOngPietkiewicz]

OMG finally, I have a technique to systematically practise! Thank you!!!

[@donecrew99]

Scotty you're the best teacher ever thank you

[@Magic65750]

Your tutorial and voice are so calm and relaxing.

[@esamastation5415]

Your way of constructing faces is so good. I was trying to draw along, but man, the way you just effortlessly convey the angle of tilt on the eyes....

[@SketchingScottie]

Thanks Esama🙌🏼

[@sophialy1671]

After taking a bit of a hiatus with painting, working through this tutorial was the highlight of my day. What an enjoyable, intuitive process! Thank you so much for sharing.

[@SketchingScottie]

That’s so good to hear Sophia! Glad you enjoyed the process🤗

[@vincenzonaso5341]

I really like the dreamy atmosphere of the finished sketch

[@taupincharlene1546]

I suffered so much 😂 the way you draw your lines is so important. I Just couldn't do it. Worst sketch in week 😅

[@LoriLClark]

I find your videos so helpful! I find a lot of portrait tutorials very complicated. You simplify things, but still allow the person to come shining through beautifully!

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

Yeah, I never could get into drawing grid lines to sketch a portrait.

[@valericaskey2540]

This was super helpful for me. Thank you!

[@ChantelleArts]

I never would’ve thought to use dots like that, what a great technique!

[@ladym6738]

You know we know these things but forget. Scotty does a great job reminding us of things we have gotten a bit lazy to use. Enjoy his vids. Blessings today.

[@SketchingScottie]

Thanks Chantellearts🤗 Glad you liked the dots!

[@SUGAR_XYLER]

It's a lot better than the loomis method which I think is completely boring and overworked

[@marmyyetter5674]

Love your instructional videos! This is very helpful to me as a beginner!

[@concretemathematics8146]

I had goosebumps from the start until the finish. What a sketch!.

[@ianhammond8798]

thank you. I really like the suggestion of structure and detail rather than sketching every complete line. will try this week. Ian

[@EricAlainDufresne]

I love your technique. Thank you for posting it

[@nalinsuchak3125]

Your style by steps teaching is really impressive. Thankyoy🎉

[@lauramarrow7411]

I love drawing people but always have some problems. I will consult this reference next time I draw, love it

[@gregorysmith1759]

Thank you

[@SuperPiano1234]

Delightful - as are all your sketches!

[@hardybeverly]

Love your style!

[@markfalconer_paints]

A must try. Well broken down. ❤

[@rociocruz2786]

I’m so amazed at your ability!😳😳🤩😍

[@ulegelochannel1995]

Amazing artwork 🎉❤

[@elianelamoglia8260]

To amando!! Muito bom!

[@rociocruz2786]

So good!❤

[@barbaragonzalez1104]

Super explained. I am learning. Thank you😊

[@valdoap]

Your pictures are very beautful. Thanks to share with us. We rally like your job.

[@maryldoty2400]

Your instructions are so helpful.❤

[@SketchingScottie]

Thanks Mary!

[@docfrayon]

I love this one !! :)

[@user-gh9zg2qq6n]

Thank you so much, it helps me al lot.

[@ellymeerleveldt614]

Thanks for this nice sketch Scottie👍

[@SketchingScottie]

thanks Elly🤗

[@patsymccown2766]

Awesome! She would be very happy with the sketch you just rendered of her!

[@SketchingScottie]

😊 oh thank you Patsy!

[@s.nandheswaran.easwaran.762]

Amezing.. Thank you bro... ❤️👍🙏

[@kerrylaw100]

That’s brilliant I can’t wait to try it thanks heaps Scottie ⭐️😊

[@SketchingScottie]

all the best Kerry!🤗

[@kerrylaw100]

Went quite well but can’t for the life of me get the nose right even copying your exact lines … any tips ?

[@SketchingScottie]

if I have trouble with the nose, I try and keep it super simple. like just add two two simple lines for width and two little horizontal lines for the nostrils. keep up the great practice!

[@greerangeminecraft6912]

Bro is a life saver this is brilliant i was tryin to draw and i dont know how to start and i always mess everything but after this video i drew is perfectly

[@SketchingScottie]

👍🏼 that's awesome

[@duartedias6773]

perfect

[@patriciamoar8440]

Very helpful

[@VivekPatwardhan]

Superb. Looks easy when you draw, but I know it requires good practice.

[@kirkiblp]

You are so amazing. Can you do more like this please?

[@jaimeturner9300]

This was a great tutorial! You make it look so effortless 😊 I waited for my set of W&N Cotman paints to arrive before trying. I have work to do, wet on wet is challenging!!! I don't like the bloom of my cheeks and the hair is a hot mess. I'm going to "fix" it tomorrow with watercolour pencils 🤫 Thank you for this awesome content 😁

[@SketchingScottie]

Thanks Jaime! So good to hear you're getting into it🙌🏼. Watercolor pencils is a great idea👍🏼😊

[@karinkruger5551]

Thank you for a great tutorial! I especially appreciate that I could SEE your reference while uou were drawing!! Often artists only show the reference in the beginning and then continue only showing their work in process. I find it frustrating. Love the way you did this!

[@SketchingScottie]

Glad you liked it Karin!

[@N7NGOKU]

Nice

[@kirstynewbery8012]

Thank you so much! This has made portraits so much less intimidating

[@kenvng]

also thank you for the references photos. I purchased your patron. a bit confused to navigate. please keep up the great works.

[@SketchingScottie]

That's great you joined me on Patreon! If you want to look at a list of the tutorials please visit: www.sketchingscottie.com/patreon-index

[@downloadmusic4free1]

I like the other videos where you start with the 4 dots.

[@cartoonblock]

Thanks again for another great walk thru ❤. Do you think some of my old oil painting brush pens ca work with water colors too?

[@SketchingScottie]

you’re welcome Evan!! (i just checked out you’re channel🙌🏼) I haven’t really used oil brushes much but I have a feeling that they might not be soft enough and watercolor brushes are designed to hold the water better.

[@cartoonblock]

@@SketchingScottie Thanks for checking out my channel. I usually mess with pencils, pens & markers. This is my first time playing with watercolors-because it’s something new & refreshing😊. I love seeing your process

[@cartoonblock]

Is art your full time career…or just a hobby?

[@SketchingScottie]

@@cartoonblock it’s part time at the moment but aim to grow it into full time

[@frolic63]

I like that kind of rough line style because you stil see the hole picture,- end result.

[@robertadrsvensson]

I love this video and your drawing technique, I learnt so much. May I ask you if you could have used a warmer colour around the nose and eyes for the shadow? It was interesting that you used a light purple. I loved the effect but I would have used a brown-orange colour there. Thanks!

[@SketchingScottie]

Thanks! Yes for sure you could do that👍🏼 I just really like using purple for some reason😊

[@davidwang3222]

Hi, Scottie, very nice drawing! I have a question , please help. the corner of the bottom lip on the photo is closed, when you draw why you left it open ? also the teeth is very visible , but you did not draw it , is that because this a loose drawing or drawing too much details won't have a good outcome ? I am learning pen drawing, sometimes I am very confused about what to draw what not . please help. thanks.

[@alexsaprince2742]

Is there a name for this style of art? I love the looseness and simplicity

[@SketchingScottie]

I call it ‘observational sketching’ but I’m sure it has a few names 😊

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

THIS DOT TECHNIQUE IS BEST FOR ME NOT THE SILHOUETTE

[@STFUppercut69]

Have you ever considered doing a more advanced tutorial, where you combine reference together? If you haven't done it already. Like you're drawing a character and you like the way it looks. And you want to draw the environment around the character. How to figure out the perspective and get the right reference to make an actual artwork out of the initial pose / character drawing.

[@SketchingScottie]

I occasionally cut a figure out from one reference and add it to a scene with a building to make it more interesting but not really as complex as your suggestion but good idea!

[@STFUppercut69]

@@SketchingScottie Uh, I like that. Doing a photo composition before the drawing. I'll look into that for sure. Thanks!

[@isabelmartin40]

Thank you, it helps me so much,your work❤

[@R_H21]

Nice portrait, thank you. Did you not like your kuretake paints?

[@SketchingScottie]

They are still really great paints but I prefer a couple of Winsor & Newton colors over the ones in the Kuretake set and W&N are easier to individually replace.

[@SuperExadidas]

It would be nice….if you can start with Loomis …..that will serve as guide. Thanks….l am new subscriber to your channell

[@williamstrickland286]

So enjoy your tutorials! Wondering, how do you measure your thirds if there is no hairline, person is bald?

[@SketchingScottie]

Come down from the top of the head about 1/6 of the total height of the head 👍🏼.

[@vrvibal]

where can i have a copy of the palette template?

[@frolic63]

When you started I was thinking -wow that lokks like crap. but I got clever you know your shit, so your drawings alwayes end up great.

[@kenvng]

Hi, I am new at this. I apologize for any silly or clueless question. I know you are sketching but what is this sketching technique call? I saw other sketch but nothing like this... they are trying so detail almost like a portrait but not quite. Sorry for lack of terminology. Thank you so much. Love your tutorial. I am still intimidate by the color and so far I only do the sketching with you. I want to get better with the color before getting into color. Too scared to ruin it.

[@SketchingScottie]

I'm not sure if there's a special name for the technique but I call it loose and quick observational ink sketching. It's an impressionistic style of sketching without worrying about realism or getting the sketch perfect. Hope you have fun!

[@michaelgiff9636]

So I have a question. I spent well over an hour attempting to follow this method for a single illustration and it was an absolute disaterpiece😅 (I used a 2mm H Pencil for construction and a 2b .7mm mechanical pencil for detail) Now do you believe there is value in: fighting, erasing, and trying to save a bad illustration? Or is it better for beginners to complete the picture in 20 minutes, warts and all and have drawn 3+ portraits in that 90 minute window as oppose to just 1? (I'm strictly talking about the drawing. I'm kicking the color theory can, down the road for now.)

[@SketchingScottie]

I always sketched more over getting one perfect. I would sketch small and on cheap paper so I could do a lot. But really up to you👍🏼

[@michaelgiff9636]

@@SketchingScottie Thx for the response. Cheapest paper I found was a 14X17 inch News Print pad at my thrift store. Maybe a touch too big for me. Hair has been beating me up badly. I print out the reference and trace out the big shapes with a crayon and then transfer that to my drawing... after that I'm loss. If I leave it alone it's just three big lumps on a head. I start adding detail and it looks like spaghetti. I've been trying to mimic your more spontaneous approach to drawing hair but uhh... woof is all I got to say. Regardless I enjoy the videos... even if I do feel a tad bit of resentment for how easy you make it look🤣 Best of luck in your fight against the KZbin algorithm.

[@SketchingScottie]

Thanks Michael 😊 Keep up the practice and you'll get there!🙌🏼

[@EndlessExperience]

I wish you have some watercolor tutorial on ipad.. i can learn a lot for sketching but the paintig looks too saturated or just bland..

[@SketchingScottie]

Unfortunately I don’t have much experience using an iPad to Watercolor

[@nuclearnadal4056]

i know this is goint to be a disaster but ill try 😂😅

[@nuclearnadal4056]

surprisingly, i think i found the style i wanna pursue 😊 thank you so much!!

[@nuclearnadal4056]

i did it!

[@bogst5579]

Yes, the technique is very interesting but clearly it's not for beginners.

[@MissTopDJ007]

Hey Scottie! I noticed in the video you have 16 half pans, but only listed 15 half pans colors. Could you list the one that is missing? Thanks! :) I really love your watercolor set.

[@SketchingScottie]

I think it was Lamp Black! I've actually just got a similar new Winsor and newton set with a nice palette which I'll show you all in my next video.