Inside Out Watercolour Figures

Exploring the Process and Techniques Behind Dynamic Watercolour Art

Highlights

Structural Foundation: Begin with a simple stick figure and evolve into a fully layered, expressive figure.
Layering Technique: Use multiple washes and build up the figure from base colors to detailed features.
Expressive Themes: Integrate color, emotion, and movement to evoke moods such as joy, sadness, or anger.

Introduction to the Inside Out Technique

The inside out watercolour technique is a distinct approach to painting figures, where the creative process starts with the interior structure of the figure—a stick or skeletal framework—and gradually works outward by adding layers of detail. This method allows artists to encapsulate not only the form but also the energy, emotion, and dynamism within a subject. It embraces the natural transparency of watercolours, encouraging experimentation with washes, blending, and bold, expressive brushstrokes.

Overview of the Technique

Traditional figure drawing often begins with defining the external contours of a subject. In contrast, the inside out approach begins with a simple, skeletal representation—a stick figure—to capture the basic pose and movement. From this minimalist base, the artist gradually infuses volume and detail using the unique properties of watercolour, such as light washes and overlaying layers. This not only helps in achieving a more dynamic, natural look but also provides a structured way to approach the complexities of figure painting.

Why Use the Inside Out Method?

The core advantage of this method lies in its ability to simplify the initial stages of drawing while still leaving plenty of room for creative expression. By starting with a basic stick figure, artists strip away the intimidation of perfect anatomy and focus instead on capturing motion, energy, and emotion. This method is especially beneficial for beginners who may be overwhelmed by the intricacies of body form or for those looking to express abstract concepts such as bliss, sorrow, or anxiety through their art.

Step-by-Step Process of Creating Inside Out Watercolour Figures

1. Establishing the Foundation

Initial Sketch

Start by lightly sketching a stick figure, which acts as the foundational "skeleton" of your drawing. The simple lines represent the crucial elements: the spine, limbs, and head. This basic framework serves as a guide for the eventual placement and proportion of the entire figure.

Capturing Movement

Focus on drawing fluid, dynamic lines that capture the movement and pose of your subject. Don’t worry about the detail just yet; this stage is all about understanding the physicality of the figure. It’s often helpful to use a photo reference or observe live movement to capture natural positioning of limbs and body dynamics.

2. Building the Volume and Form

Adding Basic Shapes

Once you have the stick figure, start adding volume-specific shapes around the joints and along the limbs. Simple ovals or circles over the shoulders, hips, knees, and elbows can provide a sense of where the body’s mass is concentrated. This step transitions the drawing from a skeletal structure to a more fleshed-out human form.

Layering With Watercolour

Prepare your watercolour set and choose a light wash that corresponds with the base tones of your figure. In this initial stage, you might want to apply a diluted paint wash to the entire figure. This first layer provides an even base from which additional shadows, highlights, and details will emerge. It is essential to use good quality, heavy watercolour paper to support subsequent layers.

3. Developing Depth and Detail

Building Layers and Shadows

After the base layer has properly dried, you begin to build up your form with additional layers of watercolour. Introduce darker shades gradually to create shadows, adding depth and dimension to the figure. The use of layering is pivotal; watercolour artists often work in multiple stages. Each new layer is applied once the previous one has dried, ensuring that the colors remain crisp and each new darker tint reinforces the volume.

Shadows can be carefully placed to suggest not only the curvature of the body but also its contours, reflecting how light interacts with a three-dimensional form. Some artists choose to mix complementary colors to result in a richer contrast that subtly defines the body's structure.

Incorporating Details: Features and Clothing

With the overall skeletal structure and foundational layers complete, it’s time to refine the details. This stage involves adding facial features, hair, and clothing. Use a smaller brush to accentuate the facial expressions which may range from joyful to somber, depending on the intended mood of the painting.

Clothing details can be painted over the base layer, complementing the body while introducing new textures and patterns. Watercolour lends itself well to the interplay of transparency and pigment, making it ideal for capturing intricate fabrics that interact with light in subtle ways.

4. Enhancing with Background and Final Touches

Complementary Backgrounds

The background is as integral to the composition as the figure itself. At this stage, you can choose to add a background that suits the mood and helps the figure stand out. A soft wash behind the figure can create the illusion of depth, or you might opt for a more detailed scenic background that enriches the narrative of your artwork.

Refining the Details

Enhance your figure by adding highlights that suggest where light strikes. This could be on the face, hair, or folds of clothing. Simultaneously, check for any spots where additional shadow detail might enhance the realism or drama of the painting. This final phase is highly introspective—it's about stepping back, analyzing the work, and knowing where a tiny detail might complete the overall composition.

Conceptual Examples of Inside Out Watercolour Figures

Emotional Expression Through Colour

One of the most engaging applications of the inside out technique is using emotional cues to drive both style and colour selection. Taking cues from conceptual portrayals found in contemporary art, many artists have pictured abstract emotions—joy, sadness, anger—as variously colored figures. This creative approach not only portrays the human form but also delves deeper into the inner landscape of emotions.

Joy and Vibrancy

Imagine a vibrant, joyful figure painted with sweeping yellow and orange washes. The inside out method begins with the structural stick figure, which is then gradually filled with a luminous base. Subsequent layers add detailed features such as a beaming smile, flowing hair, and bright, expressive clothing. The use of wet-on-wet techniques helps create soft transitions, giving the figure an ethereal glow that captures the essence of joy.

Melancholy and Depth

On a contrasting spectrum, a figure meant to embody sadness might start similarly with the skeletal structure. Yet, the progression is markedly different—the artist uses cooler tones like blues and purples. These colors, when layered, evoke the depth of melancholy. The subtle gradation of shades creates the impression of tears or a drooping posture. Here, wet-on-dry techniques may be employed to achieve sharper, more defined isolation of features, enhancing the emotional gravity of the painting.

Anger and Intensity

Similarly, a representation of anger might incorporate deep reds and fiery oranges. The inside out technique enables the artist to depict intensity through vigorous brushstrokes and textural contrasts. Starting with a basic stick figure captures the essential form, but quickly building thick, saturated layers illustrates the raw, pulsating energy inherent to anger. By reinforcing the volume with strong, directional strokes and using drybrushing to add texture, the artwork conveys a bold narrative.

Using Watercolour Illusions in Inside Out Techniques

In addition to capturing physical forms, the inside out technique can make effective use of watercolour illusions. A renowned concept within watercolour art is the illusion where a lighter inner contour is juxtaposed with a darker outline. This can create the impression that the figure is both softly defined and vividly present, enhancing both volume and depth. When applied correctly, this effect complements the layered approach, making the figure appear as though it is emerging from its own inner colors.

Detailed Practical Example with a Table

Technique Breakdown and Color Associations

To better understand the process, consider the following table which categorizes various aspects of the inside out method along with recommended watercolour techniques and color schemes tailored to emotional expressions:

Emotional State	Color Scheme	Technique	Details
Joy	Yellows, Oranges, Light Greens	Wet-on-wet for soft blending	Flowing lines, bright highlights, smooth transitions
Sadness	Blues, Purples, Soft Greys	Wet-on-dry for crisp detail	Subtle shadows, defined facial expressions, drooping posture
Anger	Deep Reds, Fiery Oranges, Burnt Sienna	Layering with bold strokes and drybrushing	Strong, energetic lines, heavy pigment concentration
Fear	Pastel Greens, Yellows, Muted Neutrals	Gentle washes for soft gradients	Wide-eyed expressions, minimal yet focused detailing
Disgust	Greens, Purples, Earthy Tones	Mixed palette blending directly on paper	Hesitant brushwork, blended unusual hues

This table not only summarizes the techniques but also serves as a quick reference for artists aiming to evoke particular emotions through their inside out watercolour figures.

Advanced Tips and Variations

Experimentation with Mixed Media

While the inside out technique is predominantly associated with watercolours, many artists find intriguing results when combining it with elements of ink, pastel, or even collage. After the primary watercolor layers are established, artists may overlay ink details to accentuate shadows or amplify expressions. The transparent layers of watercolour lend themselves to these mixed-media enhancements:

Ink Overlays: Apply fine ink detail over dried watercolour layers to emphasize outlines or add extra texture.
Pastel Accents: Use soft pastels to provide subtle reinforcement of color, particularly in areas needing a warmer glow.
Collage Elements: Incorporate photographic prints or other physical textures to create a multidimensional final piece.

Dynamic Brushwork and Layer Adjustments

The spontaneity of watercolour demands a flexible approach to brushwork. Experiment with varying your brush sizes and bristle types to achieve different effects. Larger brushes create broad, sweeping washes ideal for backgrounds and base colors, while fine tips are perfect for intricate details like facial features or subtle shadows.

Additionally, adjusting layers—waiting for one layer to dry completely before applying another—can be critical in maintaining clarity and enhancing the luminosity of the overall image. This layered approach not only refines the rendering of the human form but also captures the transient qualities that make watercolours unique.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While the inside out technique offers significant flexibility, a few challenges may arise during the painting process:

Overworking the Washes

It is easy to overwork the watercolour, which might lead to muddy or overly saturated areas. Always let each wash dry thoroughly to maintain the integrity of the layers.

Alignment and Proportion

Since the initial sketch is simplistic, ensuring that the final form adheres to correct proportions can be challenging. Regularly step back and compare with real-life references to correct any discrepancies early in the process.

Persistence and practice are key; each iteration of your work will refine your technical approach and overall composition, transforming initial sketches into vibrant, emotionally resonant figures.

Integrating Personal Style and Interpretation

Embracing Artistic Expression

One of the most exciting aspects of the inside out watercolour technique is that it inherently encourages personal interpretation. Whether your focus is on anatomical accuracy or expressive abstraction, the technique provides a framework in which personal style can flourish. Experiment with varying the intensity of your colours, the thickness of your lines, or the inclusion of unexpected details that speak to your artistic identity.

The intuitive quality of watercolour allows for a vivid translation of internal emotions to visible brushstrokes, blending the boundaries between the subject’s physical form and its emotional essence. As you refine your style, you may find that your use of the inside out technique becomes uniquely reflective of your creative voice, making each piece not just a representation of the figure’s external appearance but a window into its inner landscape.

Practical Exercises

To solidify your command of this method, consider the following exercises:

Use a fixed timer and complete a series of quick sketches using only stick figures. Then, choose one and evolve it into a fully layered piece.
Experiment with different mood palettes by painting multiple versions of the same pose, each evoking a different emotion.
Work on combining watercolour techniques with a contrasting medium, such as ink, to explore new textures and definitions.

These practices not only improve your technical skills but also promote creative exploration, enabling you to develop a more nuanced and personal approach to inside out watercolour figures.

Conclusion

The inside out watercolour technique offers a transformative way to approach figure painting by beginning with a foundational stick figure and gradually layering on form, detail, and color. This method balances simplicity and complexity, giving artists the freedom to capture both physical movement and deep emotional content. By embracing a multi-layered approach and experimenting with various watercolour methods such as wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry, you can vividly translate dynamic expressions and moods into your artwork. Personal interpretation plays a critical role in this process, making each painting uniquely expressive and true to the artist’s vision.

Whether you are a beginner looking to overcome the initial challenges of figure drawing or an experienced artist seeking fresh ways to infuse emotion into your work, the inside out watercolour technique provides a versatile framework. Its emphasis on structure, layering, and emotional expression empowers you to create figures that are not only visually engaging but also resonate with deeper layers of meaning.

References

How to Paint Figures in Watercolor from the Inside Out - WikiHow Fun
Painting People - Learn to Paint Watercolor
Painting the Figure in Watercolor - Kene Wilson
Inside Out Seascapes - A Faithful Attempt