Watercolor Rogues Gallery is a beginner level painting and sketching course.

A Rogues Gallery was a term used by early law enforcement in the late 19th century. Detectives would take photographs of known criminals and keep them posted on a wall to identify them. In an attempt to thwart the best efforts by detectives, these criminals would make funny faces, shut their eyes, and try to otherwise disguise their appearance. These photos were posted and the term Rogues Gallery was coined.

Inspired by this idea of absurd and silly faces, I wanted to combine sketches of "rogues" with watercolor. The results are playful and whimsical and like the Rogues Gallery, full of characters. The illustrations are multi-layered, built up with watercolors, line art, and shading.

Gather some watercolor supplies, a permanent marker, and either a gray marker for shading or a colored pencil. Following the techniques in course, create your grid, and start your watercolor shape.

Using the Rogues Gallery Features download, add facial characteristics in the form of simple doodles, lines, and shapes. Don't hesitate to make exaggerated features dramatic eyebrows, and little spots of personality to make your Rogues come alive. Include silly people, masked men, and even pirates.