Leisure Painter - UK (2019-06)

http://www.painters-online.co.uk JUNE 2019 19

B

irds are wonderful subjects

for watercolour studies. The

transparency of the medium is

perfect for capturing downy feathers

or the movement of birds in flight.

The humblest sparrow makes a

charming subject, but once you

venture into zoos or wildlife parks,

you will be wowed by the variety of

colour, size and pattern on display.

At a sketching visit to Bird World

near Farnham, a toucan caught my

eye. As soon as he spotted my

sketchbook he headed for his nest

box, but eventually I managed some

sketches, which I used as the basis

for this painting, with a collaged

background to add a further

dimension.

If you can’t sketch from life, the

photo (below) is a super reference. LP

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Part 4Let your fancy take flight while you paint a colourful toucan

in watercolour on a collaged background, with Liz Chaderton

Animals from life

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

nTry collaging your surface first

nHow to paint over collage

Watercolour plus

tYour reference photograph for this project (from http://www.pixabay.com)

tPen sketches completed on location at Bird World, Farnham

Blue headed amazon parrot,

watercolour on Bockingford watercolour

paper, 30x22in. (76x56cm). Birds in flight

are challenging to draw. While I did study

parrots before doing this commission, I had

to rely on photos for detail. Even having

spent time observing, however, helps you

to bring life into your painting.

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The finished painting Toco, watercolour

on collage, 14x14in. (35x35cm)

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