Watercolor Portrait Sketchbook
A course by Carlos Rodríguez CasadoIllustrator and Watercolor Artist
A course by Carlos Rodríguez Casado, Illustrator and Watercolor Artist
Master the drawing and watercolor techniques needed to create casual portraits anywhere
The best way to capture the spontaneity of a person in a portrait is to do it in the moment, hence the passion of the artist Carlos Rodríguez Casado to illustrate using the notebook he always carries with him. Although he is a press and editorial illustrator, in his spare time he does not stop drawing in his notebook, having already created endless spontaneous illustrations.
In his other Domestika course, Caricature in Watercolour, Carlos teaches the keys to make illustrated portraits in watercolor for editorials and press covers; and in this course, he will teach you the keys to capture the essence of those portrayed and translate it into spontaneous illustrations. You'll do a series of exercises of portraits in watercolor "to take away" in your notebook. You'll learn everything from establishing the basic proportions of a face to adding color, and you'll discover how to draw a model in real-time.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 16 downloads
Discovering materials
4 minutes, 20 seconds
Watercolor techniques catalog I
12 minutes, 2 seconds
Basic proportions
14 minutes, 31 seconds
Tricks to add traits I
14 minutes, 23 seconds
Light and shadow
17 minutes, 23 seconds
Light and shadow on a face I
18 minutes, 19 seconds
What's included in this course?
You'll meet Carlos and learn more about him and his fondness for portraiture and notebooks. In addition, he will share with you his artistic influences and references.
Before starting, you’ll go over the materials you'll need for the course and learn the basic rules of proportion. You'll use your notebook for the first time by trying various techniques and quick-drying materials to better experience the effects and results.
Then, through some exercises you'll put into practice the proportion applied to the face and see how to add the features. You'll enhance the lights and shadows to get volume, learning to identify them in geometric figures on the face.
After having practiced, you'll start drawing a person in real time. You'll start by making a frontal portrait with watercolor pencils, you'll continue with a side-view one with watercolor and you'll end up with a profile portrait combining both techniques. To outline your illustrations you'll use Chinese ink. Carlos will give you the keys to creating each type of portrait.
With the knowledge, materials, and techniques learned during the course, you'll be able to create spontaneous portraits in your notebook and enjoy your passion wherever you go. Your notebook will witness everything you are able to perceive and the way you interpret reality.
What is this course's project?
You'll make a portrait notebook of people around you, in watercolor, using the exercises seen during the course as a guide.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
People of all drawing levels: beginners or people who have a fondness for portraiture.
Requirements and materials
No previous knowledge is necessary for this course. As for materials, you'll need a notebook, pencil, glue, watercolors, refillable brushes, and watercolor pencils.
Reviews
- 20 days ago
Excelente curso
- 3 months ago
El maestro lo ha desarrollado de manera clara, paciente y con calidad. Propongo para DOMESTIKA, hacer un curso general sobre sombra-luz, tonos.Para no repetir en cada curso lo mismo con la esfera y polígonos. En este curso, sabiendo que la postura 3/4 es compleja, me hubiera gustado habernos detenido un poco más en esta pose del retrato. Gracias.
- 6 months ago
Fantástico, como todos sus cursos.
- 8 months ago
¡Fantástico curso! Carlos explica estupendamente los pasos a seguir para alcanzar el resultado más óptimo en el retrato a acuarela. Además lo hace de forma que se entienda perfectamente. Aprendí muchísimo y de manera clara y sencilla. Recomiendo este curso totalmente.
- 9 months ago
Maestro Carlos, muchas gracias por la generosidad con la que compartió sus conocimientos, habilidades, destrezas y calidez para explicar. Excelente técnica.
Fui paso a paso y el resultado es genial. Aún no comparto mi trabajo, pero lo haré cuando tome confianza para hacerlo. Sin embargo, logré avances significativos; comprendí la importancia del bosquejo y la versatilidad de enriquecerlo según la intención que tengamos para el retrato.
Desde Guatemala,
Claudia Morales
His skill in creating portraits and caricatures, emphasizing expressiveness and capturing the soul through the eyes, has earned him awards and recognition in various art and design forums.
In addition to his successful career as a visual artist, Carlos has shared his passion and knowledge through workshops and classes, inspiring the next generation of creatives worldwide.
Content
- U1
Introduction to live portrait
- Presentation
- Influences
- What are we going to do in this course
- U2
Materials and proportions
- Discovering materials
- Watercolor techniques catalog I
- Watercolor techniques catalog II
- Basic proportions
- Tricks to add traits I
- Tricks to add features II
- U3
Learn to look
- Light and shadow
- Light and shadow on a face I
- Light and shadow on a face II
- U4
From the eye to the paper. Drawing of the natural
- Front portrait with watercolor pencil I
- Front portrait with watercolor pencil II
- Half-sided portrait with watercolor
- Profile portrait combining techniques I
- Profile portrait combining techniques II
- Drawing to take away
- FP
Final project
- Watercolor portrait notebook
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
You’ll learn to create portraits and caricatures using watercolor and mixed media techniques—from laying out facial features and basic proportions to using watercolor pencils, dynamic composition, light and shadow, and character creation in a portable sketchbook.
This is an intermediate-level course. Basic drawing skills and some familiarity with watercolor are recommended to get the most out of the techniques and content.
You’ll need a watercolor sketchbook, watercolor paints, watercolor pencils, refillable brushes, absorbent paper, graphite pencil, pen, and India ink. Having photo references and portable materials for outdoor sketching is also recommended.
You’ll practice traditional watercolor techniques, caricature drawing, gestural sketching, using watercolor pencils, gradients, texture creation, dynamic composition, volume with pen, and mixed media methods to enrich your portraits.
Yes, you’ll learn how to select suitable sketchbooks, use and maintain refillable brushes, and choose ideal materials for working on the go and outdoors.
Yes, the course teaches how to build basic facial frameworks, divide the face into correct proportions, and adapt features for different styles including caricature and realistic portraiture.
You’ll be able to create expressive watercolor portraits, master mixed media techniques, solve complex facial layouts, experiment with portable materials, and develop your own style in artist sketchbooks.