Self-Portrait in Watercolor with Milena Guberinic

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Class Outline

This class comprises 5+ hours of HD video instruction including one full-length self-portrait tutorial.

Lesson 1: A Brief History of Self-Portraiture Through Time (7 mins)

Discover the fascinating evolution of self-portraiture in this engaging lesson that takes you on a journey from ancient times to modern-day expressions. You’ll explore iconic self-portraits across different eras and styles, gaining fresh insights into how artists have captured their identities throughout history. Through captivating visuals and thought-provoking commentary, you’ll uncover the deeper meanings behind these works and find inspiration for your own creative journey.

Lesson 2: Drawing from Within - Capturing You as Only You Can (41 mins) 

Unlock the power of your unique artistic style in this hands-on lesson on self-portrait drawing. You’ll learn foundational techniques to capture likeness and expression while discovering how intuitive mark-making can bring your portraits to life. Through engaging demonstrations—both from life and from photographs—you’ll explore blind contour and modified blind contour drawing, helping you shift focus from perfection to process. By embracing spontaneity and experimenting with different styles, you’ll tap into your natural drawing language, making your self-portraits more authentic and expressive.

Lesson 3: Exploring Watercolor - Expressive Self-Portrait Studies (98 mins) 

Bring your self-portraits to life with the vibrant and fluid medium of watercolor in this exciting lesson. You’ll dive into essential watercolor techniques—brushwork, color mixing, and layering—while learning how to create expressive self-portraits directly from life, without relying on a preliminary drawing. Through step-by-step demonstrations, you’ll see how spontaneity and confidence can transform your artistic process. Get ready to explore, experiment, and develop your skills as you paint from a mirror and discover new ways to capture your unique essence with watercolor.

Lesson 4: Bringing It All Together - Painting a Complete Self-Portrait (180 mins)

In this final lesson, you’ll bring together everything you’ve learned to create a completed self-portrait painting that truly reflects your vision and style. You’ll start by learning how to photograph yourself effectively, avoiding camera distortion and mastering lighting techniques that enhance both the technical and expressive qualities of your reference. Then, we’ll explore the art of composition, drawing inspiration from portraiture history to help you shape the intent behind your piece. Through step-by-step demonstrations, you’ll discover how to create a value study to guide your final painting—allowing you to move beyond the reference and embrace a more expressive, interpretive approach. By the end of this lesson, you’ll have the tools and confidence to complete a self-portrait that feels authentic and uniquely yours.

Meet Your Teacher

"I am a Serbian-born artist living and working in Fort Erie, Canada. I've studied formally under numerous Japanese and Western artists, exploring the possibilities of watercolor and expanding my abilities through ceaseless drawing and watercolor experimentation.

"My turbulent life experiences - including forced emigration from my homeland by civil war, the loss of my father at a young age, and my own illness and physical limitations - have influenced my choice of medium, with the fluid, unpredictable nature of watercolor assisting in my expression of the fluid, unpredictable reality of my life experience. I aim for expressive rather than realistic paintings, and often emphasize the disorder of watercolor.

"Color is highly valuable to me as a painter and my study of psychology and keen interest in the field of perception have led to my creative, experimental, and emotionally-driven use of color.

"My work has been shown in the international annual Open Water Exhibition of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolor. Currently, it is on display at the Fort Erie Art Council Gallery and housed in private collections worldwide.

"I have won two 'Outstanding Watercolor' BoldBrush painting competition awards in the past year and placed first in the 2024 'Rockwell Let’s Rock Art Festival' juried competition.

"I am a member of the Fort Erie Arts Council and an associate member of the Canadian Society for Painters in Watercolor, International Watercolor Society Canada, Women in Watercolor, the American Watercolor Society, and the California Watercolor Association." - Milena Guberinic

Lifetime Access - Anytime, Anywhere

With your purchase, you’ll get lifetime access to the class on Sktchy, where you can contact Milena, connect with fellow students from around the world and get constructive feedback on your class art via desktop and any iOS or Android mobile devices.

FAQs

What tools do I need to participate?

• Watercolor Paints
• Watercolor Paper (cellulose-cotton blend cold press, cotton hot press, cotton rough, cellulose hot press)
• Watercolor Brushes (various shapes/sizes)
• Water Container
• Tissue Paper
• Masking Tape
• Mirror

Is the content all new?

Yes! Milena created these video lessons specifically for this class.

Can I go at my own pace?

Yes! You keep lifetime access to ALL class content, so you can go at your own pace and revisit forever.

What skill level do I need for this class?

This class is suitable for artists of all skill levels, from beginners on up.

Do I get lifetime access to the class?

Yes! Your purchase gets you lifetime access to ALL class content, so you can go at your own pace and revisit forever.

Where do I access the class?

You can access the class on Sktchy, which is free to join.

What is your refund policy?

Get a full refund, with no questions asked, any time before the class comes out OR within 24 hours of purchase after the class comes out.

Any Questions?

Contact us. We'll reply asap.