Watercolor Figure Proportions Made Easy for Beginners

In this video, I’m going to show you how to add simple, effective watercolor figures to your landscapes and street scenes. These figures aren't meant to be detailed portraits; instead, they serve as perfect props to bring life and movement to your paintings. I’ll walk you through the key elements—head, body, legs, and arms—and share the proportions that keep your figures looking natural. What you’ll learn in this tutorial: • Proportion Secrets: Why it’s always better to paint a head too small rather than too big. • Capturing Motion: How to use angled shoulders and varying leg lengths to make your figures look like they are actually walking. • The "Eye Level" Rule: A simple trick to keep a group of figures in perspective, regardless of how close or far they are from the viewer. • Atmospheric Perspective: Using color temperature and detail to create depth, making distant figures look duller and cooler. • Scaling Your Scene: How to use your main figure as a ruler to size objects like cars, doorways, and awnings correctly. I’ve also included some quick tips on adding accessories like bags and hats without ruining your proportions, and how to paint an "open jacket" look to show a figure moving toward the viewer. Stick around until the end for all the tips! My PATREON MEMBERSHIP PAGE: https://www.patreon.com/joecartwright - in addition to ad-free content you get exclusive content (new videos will be more in depth than those on my YouTube channel), hi-resolution reference photos, photos of my finished painting, and drawing outlines where available. Other benefits are also included. My teaching manual: Mastering Watercolors - A Practical Guide: https://amzn.to/3CgYQfB Why I wet the back of my watercolor paper: