Watercolor Portrait of a Woman

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First Wash

Once the drawing is satisfactory, apply the first wash. Start the painting from the head, using a thin wash. Leave highlighted areas unpainted.

I usually use a very limited color palette: Winsor Red, Prussian Blue, Winsor Yellow, plus Burnt Umber, and sometimes Burnt Sienna. I often apply the primary colors directly apply onto the paper. In most of my work, I use one brush through the painting. I use a long, goat-hair Chinese paintbrush because it is very flexible. With this type of brush, it can take some time before you feel that you are in control.