Watercolor Drawings: How to Paint Expressive Eyes
A course by Carlos Rodríguez CasadoIllustrator and Watercolor Artist
A course by Carlos Rodríguez Casado, Illustrator and Watercolor Artist
Take your watercolor drawings to the next level with our course. You will learn to paint realistic gazes in your portraits.
Dive into the art of watercolor to capture the essence of the human gaze, guided by the expert hand of Carlos Rodríguez Casado, a master illustrator and watercolorist specializing in portrait and caricature.
You'll learn to work with watercolor so that each stroke reflects the depth, emotion, and uniqueness of the eyes, using wet and dry techniques to create effects and textures that bring your portraits to life.
Focusing on expressiveness and realism, you will explore the emotive and communicative nature of your subjects, elevating your watercolor skills to a new level of mastery.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 14 downloads
The materials
6 minutes, 48 seconds
The parts of the eye
12 minutes, 39 seconds
How to draw look and expression 1
19 minutes, 2 seconds
Techniques to reserve whites and remove color
10 minutes, 42 seconds
Dry work of elements
20 minutes, 36 seconds
Final layers 2
10 minutes, 18 seconds
What's included in this course?
To begin, you'll dive into the study of eye anatomy, learning about the tear duct, iris, eyelids, eyebrows, and eyelashes—key elements for capturing realistic expressions.
Next, you'll focus on mastering the use of water and pigments to achieve various effects in watercolor, from the softness of shadows to the intensity of the gaze.
Then, you'll practice adding dimension and life to the eyes with specific techniques to create highlights and reflections, crucial elements for giving your portraits expressiveness.
Finally, you'll consolidate your knowledge by applying what you've learned to a final project that brings together all aspects of the creative process, from selecting a reference photo to adding final details like veins, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
What is this course's project?
The final project involves creating a pair of expressive and realistic watercolor eyes, using both wet and dry techniques learned throughout the course.
This project will be the culmination of your learning, showcasing your ability to capture the depth and emotion of the human gaze through the art of watercolor.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Aimed at artists, illustrators, and art enthusiasts who want to deepen their watercolor technique with a specific focus on portraying expressive and realistic eyes.
It's ideal for those looking to enhance their ability to capture emotion and depth in their portraits, using watercolor as their medium of expression.
Requirements and materials
You'll need watercolors, brushes of various sizes, high-quality watercolor paper, a water container, a palette for mixing colors, and a lamp or light source to clearly observe details and shadows.
Additionally, having a selection of reference photographs is recommended to practice the techniques taught.
Reviews
- 23 days ago
Excelente profesor
- crjmanuelPLUS6 months ago
Empecé este curso pensando que iba a aprender a pintar ojos… y terminé entendiendo cómo hacer que miren de vuelta. Tiene ese equilibrio raro entre técnica y sensibilidad: no te abruma, pero tampoco te subestima. Poco a poco, el agua deja de ser un accidente y se vuelve intención, y cada capa empieza a tener sentido. Me gustó porque no busca perfección clínica, sino presencia. Es de esos cursos que, sin hacer ruido, te cambian la manera de dibujar… y de observar.
- 8 months ago
Me ha encantado, gracias.
- 9 months ago
Me encanta este profesor. He aprendido un montón con Carlos y me encanta su forma pausada de comentar su experiencia y sus técnicas. Deseo que pronto publique otro curso.
- 9 months ago
Très bon cours pas à pas qui m'a permis de perfectionner les regards à l'aquarelle. De plus merci pour la traduction orale en français bien plus confortable.
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
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
A first look
- The materials
- The parts of the eye
- How to draw look and expression 1
- How to draw look and expression 2
- Dry and wet work
- Techniques to reserve whites and remove color
- U3
Working on the look
- Reference image and drawing
- The shine in the eyes
- Dry work of elements
- Eyelashes, eyebrows and stroke types
- U4
Points of view
- The complete look 1
- The complete look 2
- Final layers 1
- Final layers 2
- Lots to see 1
- Lots to see 2
- FP
Final project
- Watercolor Drawings: How to Paint Expressive Eyes
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 will learn to illustrate portraits and caricatures for print media using watercolor, mastering realistic techniques for the gaze, facial proportions, color, textures, and expressiveness through wet-on-wet methods, white reserves, and precise details.
Prior experience isn’t required, but basic drawing and watercolor knowledge is recommended since the course is intermediate level and dives deep into specific portrait and caricature techniques.
You’ll need watercolors, 100% cotton paper (ideally Arches), synthetic and liner brushes, pencil, eraser, masking fluid, a limited palette, an acrylic brush, and reference photos.
The course teaches you to capture emotions using distortion, blur, and highlight control in the eyes, combining wet-on-wet methods and white reserves to create realistic and expressive gazes.
Yes, you’ll learn how to create both expressive distorted caricatures and realistic portraits, adapting your technique to the editorial purpose and desired style.
Techniques covered include wet-on-wet, glazing, white reserves, pigment lifting, water control, and layering transparent washes, plus methods for creating textures and highlights in the eyes.
Yes, the techniques and fundamentals you gain can be adapted to various styles and artistic goals, boosting your creativity and self-expression.