Acclaimed artist Mary White guides beginners and more experienced watercolorists through her creative journey, from choosing materials to using basic techniques and working with sitters, in clear and expressive language and full of detailed step-by-step examples. White is not limited to practical techniques, she teaches beginners not just to achieve similarity, but to reflect the character and soul of the model in the portrait.The book is rich in illustrations: here you will find cheerful and psychologically accurate watercolors of Mary White herself, as well as works by such masters like Mary Cassatt, Thomas Aikins, Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent and Georgia O'Keeffe.From the authorWatercolor is like the soul of a person: mobile, spontaneous, attractive, unpredictable , bewitching and self-willed. She has so many traits that we have, so why not use her to paint portraits? Using the natural glow of watercolor, you can easily reproduce the freshness and dullness of the skin, as well as convey the texture of clothes, hair and background, weather features. The lightness and compactness of the accessories necessary for working with watercolor makes this technique convenient for painting on trips, in the open air, for quick, simplified sketches of a model. Watercolor is perfect for searching, dreaming and discovering.There is no “correct” technique or style for drawing people. My style is just one of the possible ones. Through perseverance and hard work, you will find your way. This book will help you master working with color, light and composition, various techniques and materials, and the basic principles of working with a model. In most chapters, I show step by step how I created this or that picture. They illustrate the techniques I use and how I overcome individual difficulties. At the end of each section, I've added some exercises to help you learn watercolor techniques and further develop your own style. There are no simple solutions, ready-made recipes and rules. Only recommendations and inspiring advice that I have been sharing with my students for thirty years.Whether your goal is to become a professional portrait painter or to enjoy painting on the weekends, this book will introduce you with the basics of watercolor, which will allow you to achieve the desired expressiveness. And even if you just read the book and never pick up a brush, I hope you will become better versed in the subject and become happier contemplating the works of art and the incredible world around us.My main desire is to inspire you and inspire you to paint in a way that only you can paint.Who is this book forFor beginners and experienced watercolorists.For those who dreams of mastering the watercolor technique.For those who do not have the courage to take up the brush.For everyone who is looking for inspiration.