Formation of professional competence of future artists and fine arts teachers in the process of working on a portrait in watercolour technique

Abstract

The article addresses the problem of developing the professional competence of future artists and fine arts teachers in the process of learning watercolor portrait painting. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to enhance the professional training of art education students and to identify effective pedagogical approaches for cultivating their artistic, creative, and professional skills. Special attention is given to the specifics of the watercolor portrait as a form of educational and creative activity that integrates theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and creative thinking. The pedagogical potential of teaching watercolor portraiture in developing professionally significant qualities is analyzed through the syllabus of the elective course «Practicum in Watercolor Painting: The Portrait» for art majors at the Faculty of Art and Graphics, The State Institution «South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky». In particular, this includes the ability to observe and analyze nature, compositional thinking, rendering the structural and plastic features of form, color and tonal modeling, as well as the creative interpretation of the image. The significance of mastering the technological and expressive possibilities of watercolor for the development of students’ professional mastery is highlighted. It is demonstrated that instruction in watercolor portraiture is comprehensive in nature and serves as an essential component of future artists’ professional training. The sequential mastery of portrait methodology, the development of technical proficiency in watercolor techniques, and the formation of the capacity for independent artistic problem-solving create the prerequisites for the professional competence development of future specialists.