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Painting Portraits in Gouache

with Jordan Rhodes
4.8 (137)
Learn step by step how to create your very own amazing gouache portrait.
English English, French, 1 more Spanish
1+
hours
22
lessons
Beginner
level
Jordan Rhodes

Your Instructor

Jordan Rhodes is a portrait artist based in Nashville. He has worked with clients, such as Columbia Records, Disney Plus, Strathmore, and Grammy-nominated artist, D Smoke.

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1+
hours
22
lessons
Beginner
level
English
English, French , 1 more
Subtitles
  • Spanish

What you’ll learn

  • Discover how to paint your very own portrait
  • Learn about gouache and how to use it
  • Get familiar with the tools of the trade
  • Learn Jordan’s techniques for mixing colors and blending
  • Understand the planes of the face and divide a face into several values
  • Learn how to prepare your paper and set up your workspace
  • Get started by painting a base & value layer
  • Understand how to build up layers and control opacity
  • How to add details to the portrait and clean up edges
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Description

Do you want to learn how to paint amazing portraits that will impress your viewers? Are you fascinated by this but don’t know where to start? Do you feel intimidated, assuming it’s an advanced skill that only professional artists can master?

Well, good news! It’s MUCH easier than you might think! Get ready to learn the basics of painting portraits and techniques for using gouache!

Gouache is a fun, vibrant medium that dries into a beautiful, flat matte finish. In this course, you’ll discover the nature of gouache and learn how to use it skillfully like a pro.

Your instructor, Jordan Rhodes, demystifies the process of portrait painting, by explaining in detail each step, giving you clear demonstrations and teaching you easy techniques that you can use right away. With Jordan’s guidance and helpful tips, you’ll realize that creating a portrait is nowhere near as daunting as you thought!

By the end of this course, you’ll have a whole new skillset under your belt, and a new-found confidence in your artistic abilities. Your friends and loved ones will be amazed and thrilled when they see the gorgeous portraits that you create!

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Who is this course for

  • Beginners who want to learn how to paint portraits using gouache.
  • Experienced artists looking to learn new techniques for painting portraits with gouache
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This course includes

  • 1+ Hours of on-demand videos
  • List of recommended resources
  • Process and Bonus images (JPG)
  • Cheat sheets
  • Certificate of Completion
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Used in course

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What you'll need

  • Some drawing experience recommended
  • Gouache paint and brushes (watercolor/mixed media)
  • Watercolor/mixed media paper (300 gsm)
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Lesson Plan

with Jordan Rhodes
Expand all sections
00

Introduction

01:56

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Welcome to this course!

In this video, you’ll get to know your instructor, talented artist and portrait master, Jordan Rhodes. Jordan also outlines the exciting lessons awaiting you in his course!

01

Gouache Basics

19:05

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Jordan will teach you the fundamental properties of gouache, such as how it differs from watercolor and acrylics, and how to control the paint consistency, so you can harness its full potential.

He also shows you the exact materials and tools he uses, explains their benefits and gives recommendations for what you can use.

Next, you’ll put brush to paper with some easy, warm-up exercises to get comfortable with how gouache works, for example: layering on top of wet vs. dry paint, adding white paint vs. adding water.

INCLUDED:

   2 Cheat Sheets

   List of Recommended Resources


1.1
Introduction
00:44
1.2
What is Gouache?
04:42
1.3
Materials and Workspace
04:46
1.4
Opacity and Consistency
05:47
1.5
Layering Gouache
03:06
02

Painting the Asaro Head Statue

16:27

In this practice lesson, you’ll follow along with Jordan as he paints the Asaro head statue; a unique exercise in understanding the various planes of a face.

Starting off with a base layer, Jordan teaches you how to build layer on top of layer, explaining exactly what he is doing and why.

You’ll learn how light interacts with the facial planes, how to study values and clean up edges, and discover techniques for painting shadows and highlights.

INCLUDED:

   1 Homework Template


2.1
Introduction
00:43
2.2
Studying the Asaro Head
01:54
2.3
Base Layer
02:15
2.4
Value Study
02:29
2.5
Initial Layers of Black and White Gouache
03:27
2.6
Building Up the Layers
02:30
2.7
Additional Adjustments
01:16
2.8
Using the Background to Clean Up the Edges
01:53
03

Painting a Portrait in Gouache

01:09:50

And now is the part you’ve been waiting for: ‘It’s TIME TO paint an amazing portrait of your own!

Follow along with Jordan as he shows you how to create your very own portrait from scratch. He teaches you how to analyze a reference image and what to look for when studying it.

After that, you’ll learn how to paint a thin wash for the base and then break down the head into two or three values to lay the foundation for the following steps. Next Jordan explains how to add colors, shadows and highlights, increasing the paint opacity as he goes.

Then as the last step, he gives you unique tips on how to add fun details, like eyelashes, fly-away hairs and jewelry, enhancing the finished portrait and making it sparkle with life.

You are now ready to create your own amazing portraits of your friends and family! Good luck and have fun!

INCLUDED:

   1 Homework Template

   Final Image


3.1
Introduction
00:43
3.2
Preparing the Paper
03:01
3.3
Drawing the Graphite Sketch
13:04
3.4
Transferring the Sketch
02:51
3.5
Laying Down the Base Color
27:44
3.6
Building the Layers and Background
12:51
3.7
Refining and Adding Details
04:26
3.8
Removing the Tape
05:10

Student Feedback

137 customer reviews & ratings

4.8

Course rating

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5 star
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The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher's recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

(Based on 137 reviews)

Most Liked
Great step-by-step process 110
Clarity of Instruction 99
Helpful Examples 84
Showing 10 reviews of
137
reviews & ratings
Natalie M.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed all the exercises and seeing all the techniques to make a portrait. Can't wait to try it!
I recommend it for All levels
5 people found this helpful
BK
Brian K.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
I really like how everything was explained! Just love the fact of using those imho huge brushes! The clarity of the explanations is truly inspiring. I need to get me some huge brushes ;) Thank you so much for sharing your talent and process!!!
I recommend it for Intermediate
3 people found this helpful
SB
Sarah B.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Great instructions with clear step-by-step process. He includes reasons and explanations for all of his steps along the way and does a great job of demystifying gouache as a medium.
I recommend it for Beginner
1 person found this helpful
MM
Maryanna M.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
very hands on and i loved how he took us in a journey step by step. thank you for this great masterclass.
I recommend it for All levels
1 person found this helpful
AC
Aaron C.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Great course, would like more like this
I recommend it for Beginner
Franz B.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
great
I recommend it for All levels
OB
Omar B.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
this was awesome. great seeing the process of someone who’s mastered his craft.
I recommend it for Beginner
LP
Laurene P.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Very enjoyable and I learned a lot.
I recommend it for Beginner
CS
Cristina S.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Jordan is an incredible teacher, he explains everything, from how the gouache pigment works, the levels and great tips to create an incredible portrait. I highly recommend this course if you're a beginner or already an artist. It's great to discover how gouache works.
I recommend it for All levels
1 person found this helpful
PS
Pietro S.

2 years ago

Verified Purchase
Great
I recommend it for Intermediate
See more reviews

About the Instructor

Jordan Rhodes
Gouache Artist 1 course

Jordan is a Ph.D. Chemist, turned artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. What started out as a way to relax in his leisure time after working in the lab quickly grew into his passion. He has worked with Strathmore, Princeton Brushes, Columbia Records, Disney Plus, Sktchy, and an album cover for DSmoke (Grammy nominated artist).


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