Jose' Micallef

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The challenges painting in watercolors.

I must admit that the watercolor medium is not my favorite. However, due to certain circumstance, I ended up painting mostly with this medium as I find it fast and can paint on small size paper hence will not have any space issues.

Painting watercolor portraits can present a number of challenges for artists, including:

  1. Control of the medium: Watercolor is a fluid and unpredictable medium, making it difficult to control compared to other painting mediums. This can make it difficult to achieve certain effects or details in a portrait.

  2. Color management: Watercolor can be difficult to manage when mixing colors, as it can be challenging to achieve the right tone and balance of colors in a portrait.

  3. Planning ahead: Unlike oil or acrylic paints, it can be difficult to make changes to a watercolor painting once it has been applied. This means artists need to carefully plan their painting and work in layers to build up the image.

  4. Timing and drying: Watercolor paints dry quickly and can be difficult to blend once they have dried. Artists must work quickly and plan for the drying time of each layer.

  5. Paper selection: The type and quality of paper used can greatly affect the final outcome of a watercolor painting. Artists need to select the right paper to achieve the desired effect.

  6. Preservation: Watercolor paintings are fragile and can be easily damaged if not properly preserved. Artists need to take extra care to ensure the longevity of their watercolor portraits.

Overall, painting watercolor portraits requires a high level of skill and patience. It can be a challenging medium, but it can also produce beautiful and unique results. It takes time and a lot of hours of practice to master this medium. I love experimenting with color mixing especially when doing figurative pieces. Portraits are still my favorite.