More often than I can count, I have people say to me, "I can't even draw a stick figure," which always makes me smile. We are most intimidated, in many cases, when tasked with depicting people. It makes sense, really. They are so dynamic and can have so much variation. And, of course, we can get hung up on small details not being exactly right when we're painting or drawing specific people. 

So, today, let's dig into this topic!

How Do You Paint People in Watercolor?

Today's video is a watercolor tutorial on how to paint people. I've created this video so you can follow along while I paint the two figures below, highlighting the aspects of these two hikers that compelled me to paint them.

To paint with me with step-by-step instruction, watch the video linked in this blog.

For some more general strategies to use when painting figures - and why I think they're an important element to add to our watercolor scenes - read this short but informative blog. 

I hope you do both! 

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4 Watercolor Strategies to Implement When Painting People

1. Paint figures with proportion in mind. Proportion and scale is important when you're painting figures. When you're painting people, here are a couple things to keep in mind:
   
   • People are normally a bit taller than cars and a bit shorter than doorways. 
   • When you are painting multiple people, place their heads on or close to the same plane. From there, vary the length of their bodies to show distance (example below). 
2. Pay special attention to the placement of head and position of shoulders. The most expressive parts of a figure are captured in the position of the head and shoulders. Let them do most of the work and simplify from there. 
3. Depict a group of people as one big shape. When you're painting a group of people that overlap one another, think of them as one large unit. Also, vary the distance between them in a way that is organic and natural so as to avoid equidistance intervals between them that look too symmetrical. (Note where I've allowed people to blend in with one another in the painting below - and the way I've arranged them on the page). 
4. Ground your figures with shadows. Without shadows, your figures will look like they are floating around in the your painting. Make sure you consider your light source when you add the shadow to fully integrate the figure into your scene and to give them the depth they need to look believable.  

4 Reasons to Add People to Your Paintings

1. Adding People to Your Painting Acts as a Scale. Look at the painting above. Notice how the woman right next to the building comes up about halfway to the window's tallest point. This is a visual clue of the building's scale that adds to the overall impression of the painting. 
2. Including Figures in Your Watercolor Suggests a Narrative or Story. We want to see ourselves in art, and our brains are hard-wired to respond to narrative. This is one way to connect with your viewer and gain interest in your painting. Take the painting below. We've got two figures walking on a cold, wet day. A viewer's mind goes straight to them - where are they going? What is their relationship? How do they feel? Posing these questions in your viewer's mind connects them more deeply to your painting.  
3. Painting People in a Watercolor Enhances Believability in a Watercolor Scene. Considering the same painting (now above), think about the realism that these figures infuse into this painting. Their shoulders are a little hunched, their hands in their pockets. Their body language adds to the believability of this scene because it supports the other elements we're seeing - the snow, the wet street, etc. 
4. Peopling a Landscape Brings the Scene to Life.  Not every scene I paint has figures. They're not necessary, but they do broaden the perspective of a painting. They can suggest something about the culture of a locale, the daily life of a particular place, and the mood of a scene. People are expressive in a way that nothing else is, and including them in your paintings can add meaning and vibrancy to your watercolor.  

Related Blogs

How to Add Figures to Your Watercolor Painting 

How to Paint Shadows in Watercolor 

How to Add Feeling to Your Watercolors