Watercolor Workshop: Painting Birds

After reading a wonderful article by Colette Copeland in Somerset Studio’s May/June issue, I decided I would try teaching a version of her simple bird drawing and painting techniques to my students. First I cut up watercolor paper for them in easy to mange 4×6″ pieces. Then I gathered all my bird photo reference materials. Before they came I drew a few of my own birds. I chose a warbler, an owl and a snowy plover. When they came I again drew some birds from scratch and allowed them to copy either my birds, the birds in photos or Copeland’s artwork. Then I demonstrated how to apply a simple wash over the piece and add black ink as a finishing touch. They had a fun time and found that the exercise really helped them see the larger shapes in their paintings.

Look at how whimsical the birds are…the bird in one has found a worm!

Here another student works on a snowy plover and her baby. Do you see the whooping cranes in the background the student has finsihed?

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After my students left, I got busy creating birds in my own style

Bird Painting, watercolor … . $59	Owl Art, bird wildlife wat… SOLD
Bird Painting, watercolor … $59.00	Bird Art, wildlife waterco… . $149

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