One of my recent obsessions is painting portraits with dramatic lighting, where there is really clear definition of light and dark in the subject. I’ve learned that these portraits in many ways are easier to tackle than subjects with more subtle lighting. So, if you feel comfortable with your observational drawing skills and are looking to dive into portraits, come along with me as I show you my approach for creating moody, emotive portraits with watercolor and colored pencil.

This class is part of my “Paint with Me” series, where you come along with me, like you’re hanging out in my studio for the afternoon, and I explain the process of a mixed media painting step-by-step. You’ll get to see me work to address the different artistic challenges I encounter along the way, and hear me talk through how I solve them. I'll also toss in little tips and tricks along the way for getting the most out of mixed media.

What we’ll cover

Together we’ll work through each phase of the painting, working through layer-by-layer of watercolor and colored pencil to create a finished mixed media painting. Some of the specific points we’ll touch on include:

• Choosing and working from a reference with strong, dramatic lighting
• Watercolor blending and mixing techniques for mixed media
• Layering colored pencil over watercolor
• Seeing and translating values and different kinds of shadows

Remember, if you have any questions along the way, feel free to leave them in the comments of any lecture. I will try my best to get back to you in 2-3 business days! For technical problems related to the platform, visit Teachable's FAQ page.