Painting Guides: Portraits, Watercolor & Landscape

Whether you are just starting out or looking to sharpen your craft, the world of painting offers plenty of shortcuts you can use right now. Below you’ll find straight‑forward advice on portrait basics, watercolor quirks, and landscape fundamentals. No jargon, just clear steps you can try on your next canvas.

Portrait Painting Basics

First thing to decide is the look you want for the portrait. Do you prefer a totally realistic likeness or something more expressive? Realistic work needs careful attention to proportion and light, while expressive pieces let you play with color and shape. A simple way to start is to sketch the head using basic shapes – a circle for the cranium, a line for the center, and a T‑shape for the jaw. This keeps the features in the right spot before you add details.

If you’re torn between acrylic and oil, think about drying time. Acrylic dries fast, so you can layer colors quickly, but you may need a medium to keep the paint from becoming too stiff. Oil stays wet longer, giving you more time to blend, but it smells stronger and takes days to dry. Try both on a small study to see which feels right for your style.

Backgrounds matter more than you think. A plain, muted backdrop can make the subject pop, while a busy scene can distract. Use a complementary color – if the skin tones are warm, try a cool blue or green background. This contrast adds depth without overwhelming the portrait.

Watercolor & Landscape Essentials

Watercolor often feels tricky because the paint moves on its own. One common mistake is using too much water, which creates hard, unwanted lines. To avoid that, work on wet‑on‑wet for soft gradients, then switch to wet‑on‑dry when you need sharper edges. Keep a scrap piece of paper handy to test the amount of water before you apply it to your main sheet.

Another frequent slip is leaving the paper too saturated, which can make colours bleed uncontrollably. The trick is to let each layer dry a bit before adding the next. This builds depth and prevents the colors from turning muddy.

When you move to landscape painting, think of the canvas as three zones: foreground, middle ground, and background. The foreground gets the most detail and texture, the middle ground sets the scene, and the background creates atmosphere. Use cooler, lighter colours for distant areas to simulate depth, and richer, warmer tones up close.

Composition is key. Try the rule of thirds: imagine two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines dividing your canvas into nine squares. Place the main subject along those lines or at their intersections for a balanced look.

Finally, don’t forget to experiment. Mix a little gouache with watercolor for opacity when you need to correct a mistake, or add a thin glaze of oil over a dried watercolor for extra vibrancy. These small tricks can make a big difference without buying new supplies.

Painting is a hands‑on adventure. Use these tips as a starting point, test them out, and adjust to what feels natural for you. The more you practice, the quicker you’ll spot what works and what doesn’t. Happy painting!