How to Paint Figures - Adding Life to Your Watercolor Paintings

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  • Опубліковано 5 сер 2024
  • ▶︎Free Video Lesson: 8 Ways to Avoid Overworking Your Painting www.learntopaintwatercolor.co...
    Early on in my painting journey, I was intimidated by figures, so I avoided them.
    But figures can transform a scene into a relatable, human experience. Simply put, they can give your painting a sense of life. They also can give your painting much needed scale and dimension.
    In this week’s blog, I am going to demonstrate my process for painting figures.
    I am going to show you how to:
    Achieve the right proportions,
    Suggest movement,
    Ground your figures,
    Paint several figures in relation to each other, and
    Blend figures into your background
    The variations of figures that you can create and combine together are endless, so this is a skill that you can always go back to and refine. Like anything else - the more repetition you are able to give to your figure painting, the more mastery you will attain.
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 145

  • @SoYeahChrisCrafts
    @SoYeahChrisCrafts 3 роки тому +14

    Very informative and great narration with the steps Sir! Up and up with your success here! 🙌

    • @SoYeahChrisCrafts
      @SoYeahChrisCrafts 3 роки тому +7

      The dry brush for the legs: game changer. THANK YOU

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  3 роки тому +5

      Thanks so much! I appreciate it. Glad you liked the video and I hope it helps.

  • @dottiekiley2171
    @dottiekiley2171 2 роки тому +10

    Now, I have 25 pages of only people…no backgrounds. I am stuck. I just love your quick style.

  • @stevebovard6926
    @stevebovard6926 Рік тому +1

    Thank you about keeping the heads at the same level!!🎉
    Keep teaching ill keep watching !
    Thanks

  • @12345678maylin
    @12345678maylin 2 роки тому +2

    The tip about the heads level is great. Thank you for a very educational video.

  • @GoogleUser-it3xq
    @GoogleUser-it3xq Рік тому

    Thank you so much, Matt, for all you do to help others!

  • @bennimenden
    @bennimenden 3 роки тому +13

    I already said it but im glad i found your channel :)) what is even more sick, is that i just asked myself how to paint figures and you made a video about it 9 hours ago.
    I am 15 years old and i hope i found my passion in watercolor. Just wanted to let you know you really helped me with your vids

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  3 роки тому +3

      That’s great! I’m really glad you are getting something from my videos. Best of luck as you get into watercolor!

  • @dianakoeppel3492
    @dianakoeppel3492 Рік тому +1

    Very helpful. Adding little people has brought things to life. Thank you.

  • @annipetratos9401
    @annipetratos9401 Рік тому +1

    When at school art class, i had painted a people free city scene with a bus in the foreground. My teacher said.."put some people in there"... He flashed his brush and with one swipe hed added a mysterious passenger on the bus.
    I loved that picture... because of the character he had added

  • @mariaguillerminaayrolo1480
    @mariaguillerminaayrolo1480 Рік тому +1

    ❤❤❤❤great tutorial !!!!!!

  • @robynblake4841
    @robynblake4841 2 роки тому +1

    A very helpful video! Figures certainly do add life and I like how you’ve presented this lesson in a practical way.

  • @therupoe
    @therupoe 2 роки тому

    This was so great! Thank you - just found this channel and it's been a great resource. This is always so intimidating but I really want to include them in plain air/ city sketching

  • @margaretlindsay4129
    @margaretlindsay4129 2 роки тому +2

    Im so glad i found you. Your teaching manner and simple explainations have been priceless. Thankyou.

  • @tonyaahn540
    @tonyaahn540 Рік тому +1

    Excellent tutorial to an intimidating subject. Thanks for a well rounded lesson on proportion, depth, detail, & profile.

  • @EloiseMichel
    @EloiseMichel 2 роки тому

    Thank you for the advices. I'll grab my paintbrushes and try wright now !

  • @tedpytlik8123
    @tedpytlik8123 2 роки тому

    Excellent instruction on figure painting. Anxious to add some to current street scene. My earliest figures tended to have heads that were too large. Your seven and a half head guideline is helpful. Thanks for the great demo.

  • @crystalblake8619
    @crystalblake8619 Рік тому +1

    Love this!

  • @annipetratos9401
    @annipetratos9401 Рік тому

    Wow love this. Im so obssessed with detail.

  • @143ArtandSoul
    @143ArtandSoul 2 роки тому +5

    Thank you for this video. Love how you simplify the process. :)

  • @susancook1617
    @susancook1617 2 роки тому

    Thank you Matthew, this is a great tutorial.

  • @christinewrestsmith6957
    @christinewrestsmith6957 2 роки тому +2

    Love your teaching style and delivery- very helpful

  • @pedrocarloslaufferneto4189
    @pedrocarloslaufferneto4189 2 роки тому

    ola... matthew... excelente tua explanação sobre fiiguras humanas... realmente sempre é algo intimidador.... mas tu falas com tanta calma que é um incentivo para os iniciantes.... pedro from brasil.

  • @marvindcat
    @marvindcat 2 роки тому +3

    I kinda wish we could see your palette while you’re painting….just to see how you handle the brush through the paint and the pressure against the palate itself.
    But still super informative! Thank you.

  • @JosRitter
    @JosRitter 2 роки тому

    Thanks for sharing. Something I'll be practicing.

  • @citigirl3238
    @citigirl3238 2 роки тому +4

    This is a wonderful tutorial….great explanations and demos! Thank you for making this a simple way to understand people in groups and distances!

  • @Northumbergull
    @Northumbergull Рік тому

    Hi, from Scotland! Thank you so much for producing this video. Until now, I've struggled with painting figures. This really helped my confidence 👍

  • @eze3572
    @eze3572 2 роки тому

    Im doing this practice tonight!!! Yay

  • @nadifouldi3131
    @nadifouldi3131 2 роки тому

    Thank you so much for this great video. It is very helpful for beginners like me.

  • @JagadisM
    @JagadisM 2 роки тому

    Love 💗 it... Thanks!!

  • @TobiasELee
    @TobiasELee 9 місяців тому +1

    Excellent video (and examples) - thanks you!

  • @margaretvandiem7116
    @margaretvandiem7116 11 місяців тому +1

    this is fabulous thanks

  • @antoniomarcos5321
    @antoniomarcos5321 3 роки тому +8

    Thank you so much. I have just learnt about your video and I found it very useful, especially the tip about using a drier bruch for the lower limbs (where there is less lighting) and the theoretical note about the key to how the figures should be read. The only complement I would make is the need to vary the 7.5 proportion rule for variation (taller and shorter people, female as well as male) and also a little variation in body shapes, so as to avoid the effect that the crowd is "an army of robots". Anyway, great video! Thanks for your generosity, and I will be coming back for more.

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  3 роки тому +2

      Thanks Antonio! Glad you liked the video. Good point on varying the size and shape of your figures. Variety is important. Thanks for watching!

  • @xandecriskim
    @xandecriskim 2 роки тому

    absolute great!!!!!

  • @barryteghtmeyer5466
    @barryteghtmeyer5466 2 роки тому +3

    Thanks Matt! This was perfect timing! I posted your tutorial on my class FB page. Several of my students had the goal of putting figures into their paintings/sketches. Again, appreciate your clear instruction!

  • @Anthony-gq7dk
    @Anthony-gq7dk 2 роки тому

    Superb video and art class, so easy to follow and wonderful to watch an expert at work

  • @arunarts1653
    @arunarts1653 2 роки тому +2

    Excellent

  • @apaperylife2096
    @apaperylife2096 2 роки тому

    Excellent video! Thank you!

  • @munishnayyar9696
    @munishnayyar9696 2 роки тому +1

    Thankyou sir for showing this so beautifully. You truly are a master. God Bless

  • @lynnsemple2716
    @lynnsemple2716 3 роки тому +8

    Great video - thank you! I'm always a bit wary of putting people in my sketches but will give it a shot now. Thank you for sharing your fantastic skills & knowledge.

  • @iammir8365
    @iammir8365 7 місяців тому

    I'm really excited now to paint people, thanks to you! I just subscribed too!

  • @gingeranderson9701
    @gingeranderson9701 Рік тому

    Thank you!

  • @fishingmagconz
    @fishingmagconz 2 роки тому

    Very good. It looks easy the way you paint your figures.

  • @GoogleUser-it3xq
    @GoogleUser-it3xq Рік тому +1

    Matthew, your Watercolor Essentials course along with the Watercolor Community is wonderful! The way you explain things so carefully and precisely is something I've not found in any other watercolor instructor. I'm so glad I decided to take your course and join the Watercolor Community as well. Kudos!

  • @jackiebyers1272
    @jackiebyers1272 2 роки тому +1

    Very helpful! Thanks for sharing.

  • @christinebarone2151
    @christinebarone2151 2 роки тому

    Awesome. Thank you.

  • @bdcorgimom
    @bdcorgimom 9 місяців тому +1

    This was really great for a beginner! One thing I am really seeing is that in these figures the less paint on the legs seems to indicate more movement which I never would of thought of that!

  • @pkvvkp8978
    @pkvvkp8978 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks Matthew this is a great video I leaned so much from your clear teaching

  • @marijadika6444
    @marijadika6444 2 роки тому +1

    I am glad I found your channel! Great videos with helpful tips and demos for watercolour enthusiasts:)!

  • @normaspande3141
    @normaspande3141 2 роки тому

    Thanks, that was very help ful

  • @jillam7039
    @jillam7039 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you! This was great

  • @TanyaNarayan
    @TanyaNarayan 3 роки тому +1

    Perfectly explained and very helpful, thank you so much for sharing!

  • @masoudrasoulian6591
    @masoudrasoulian6591 2 роки тому +2

    Your teaching is very very good

  • @feyzancankaptanoglu503
    @feyzancankaptanoglu503 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you. It was very didactic

  • @AnimalArtbyTerraCotta
    @AnimalArtbyTerraCotta 3 роки тому +2

    I've always avoided drawing people (lol and still might) but your tips on perspective are so helpful! I've just used gut feeling on where to put animals in relationship, not always with good results, and your tips on planes and distance is spot on awesome! Appreciation! 👍👍👍

  • @nlmelch
    @nlmelch 3 роки тому +1

    Very helpful. Thank you for this great demo.

  • @viviane1898
    @viviane1898 11 місяців тому +1

    that's amazing!!!!

  • @christierella
    @christierella 2 роки тому

    Mind blown. Instant sub. I am recently obsessed with figure painting, the carrot method is my go to. You’ve inspired me, thank you for that, sir. That doesn’t come often enough. I can not wait to peruse your channel! Good stuff.

    • @christierella
      @christierella 2 роки тому

      ...how you snuck some perspective knowledge on me! I like it, a lot.

  • @wallabybob3020
    @wallabybob3020 2 роки тому +1

    Clear, concise and informative. This is the way a tutorial video should be. 👍🏻

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  2 роки тому

      Thanks Nick! I appreciate that.

    • @wallabybob3020
      @wallabybob3020 2 роки тому

      @@learntopaintwatercolor My pleasure Matthew. I’ve been a professional illustrator for nearly 40 years. I started out as a watercolourist then followed Satan’s path and became a cartoonist!😱 Now I’m semi-retired and going back to watercolours for a bit of fun and your videos are a great source of inspiration. Thanks again.

  • @inesmeneses8570
    @inesmeneses8570 2 роки тому +1

    Love your tutorial thanks 🙏, God blessing

  • @gabbygabgab611
    @gabbygabgab611 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you so much.this is amazing

  • @user-rf8uz5rf8c
    @user-rf8uz5rf8c 5 місяців тому

    Very helpful!

  • @hannastocksick7395
    @hannastocksick7395 3 роки тому +1

    Amazing! Wil definitely try. Thx for putting time into this video. Subscribed

  • @MrsTiffanyGrey
    @MrsTiffanyGrey 2 роки тому +1

    That was a great exercise! Thank you!

  • @rubyseddon6456
    @rubyseddon6456 2 роки тому +1

    Thank you so much for sharing ❤

  • @caseywilliams4932
    @caseywilliams4932 2 роки тому

    ty!

  • @gailmariage5318
    @gailmariage5318 Рік тому +2

    This is incredible. Thanks.

  • @jjroseknows777
    @jjroseknows777 2 роки тому +1

    Love it!

  • @suzieirby2137
    @suzieirby2137 2 роки тому +1

    Fabulous

  • @myjewelry4u
    @myjewelry4u Рік тому +1

    I just found you! Happy about that.

  • @ivancastro3225
    @ivancastro3225 2 роки тому +1

    Thanks for the helpful video!!!

  • @ravimuley6634
    @ravimuley6634 2 роки тому +1

    This is very helpful

  • @paulleeming5733
    @paulleeming5733 2 роки тому +1

    Great Mathew

  • @happyfarmer979
    @happyfarmer979 2 роки тому +1

    I learned a lot. Thanks.

  • @nikchetverikov8989
    @nikchetverikov8989 2 роки тому +1

    Hello! I am from Russia and I am 13 years old. Thank you for the lesson! It is very informative and yseful.

  • @manzencastillo
    @manzencastillo 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you sooooo much

  • @finearts383
    @finearts383 2 роки тому

    Well done

  • @graziellarocha8896
    @graziellarocha8896 7 місяців тому

    That's very interesting

  • @merymer5831
    @merymer5831 9 місяців тому +1

    Hello from İstanbul, thank you for the video

  • @hornjan8258
    @hornjan8258 3 місяці тому

    Many thanks for your informative contributions. I have already been able to implement a lot of it in my pictures. Why don't you paint lower legs and feet? I've noticed the same thing with Tim Wilmot.

  • @InvincibleArts
    @InvincibleArts 2 роки тому +1

    An amazing video.. 😃

  • @pesto12601
    @pesto12601 2 роки тому +1

    amazing... great video.. SUBSCRIBED!

  • @mingyzhang
    @mingyzhang 6 місяців тому

    Please demonstrate more human figures drawing!

  • @etoileblue
    @etoileblue Рік тому

  • @amandabartlett309
    @amandabartlett309 Рік тому

    still trying to do the dry brush technique

  • @nic.in.the.pacific5113
    @nic.in.the.pacific5113 Рік тому

    👍

  • @yosephadrianto1622
    @yosephadrianto1622 Рік тому

    Good

  • @badams1376
    @badams1376 2 роки тому +1

    I loved it! However, towards end, about incorporating background, you lost me there. Something about colors of clothes perhaps including in background wash? Thanks!

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  2 роки тому

      Sorry, I plan on making a video addressing that as well. I was try to explain to include light values in your figures in the first wash and don't just paint around them. More explanation to come!

    • @JK-ug5qn
      @JK-ug5qn Рік тому

      Yes! I have no problem drawing the tiny figures. My problem is how they don’t get lost against the background. For instance flesh tone figure against a beach color. Do we outline them? 🤷‍♀️Or do you leave a little white around the figure?? Funny how you can paint for decades and still get stumped!!!

  • @lucapace8136
    @lucapace8136 Рік тому

    What kind of paper are you using

  • @stanTrX
    @stanTrX 2 роки тому

    thanks. i think there is also "carrot" method for these little guys.

  • @cybermollusk
    @cybermollusk Рік тому +1

    What paints do you use? I tried this one expensive brand because my teacher recommended it, but the pigment is awfully chalky. Yours look much smoother.

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  Рік тому +1

      Daniel Smith

    • @cybermollusk
      @cybermollusk Рік тому

      @@learntopaintwatercolor really? 😆 that's the brand I was getting terrible results with. Are you using tube or pan? Maybe the pan paint works better.

    • @jubileej1629
      @jubileej1629 Рік тому

      ​@@cybermollusk pans are always better (personally) however Daniel Smith paints does have more granulation than other paints. Maybe you can try winsor and newton?

  • @travelinglovebugs7
    @travelinglovebugs7 2 роки тому +1

    Have trouble dry brushing

    • @learntopaintwatercolor
      @learntopaintwatercolor  2 роки тому

      It can be tricky until you get a feel for it. I have a video on that if you are interested. ua-cam.com/video/UMWiC6auU-o/v-deo.html

  • @mooshibe
    @mooshibe 2 роки тому +1

    My great problem! Figures. I'm not a drawer at all. Thank you.

  • @hannastocksick7395
    @hannastocksick7395 3 роки тому +1

    Wow, i just created some zombies! :))

  • @nutbutton7678
    @nutbutton7678 Місяць тому

    this is exactly what i needed ty

  • @KoemsyArtPainting
    @KoemsyArtPainting 2 роки тому +1

    thank you for sharing your painting 💖💖👍 skill