Paint three realistic-looking birds in watercolor using just one color.

In this class, you’ll focus on working with just one color, then mastering the wet-on-wet technique and learning how to lift color to bring back highlights and create softness. This class is suitable for all levels and is filled with helpful tips, all recorded in real time.

It’s important to watch each lesson — especially how to properly wet the paper. The more time you spend practicing wet-on-wet and lifting, the better you’ll become. It’s really about developing a feel in your hand — understanding how much water to use on your brush and how much to mix with your paint. There are no shortcuts in watercolor.

Be sure to check the Project Resources section below, where you’ll find a comprehensive guide that goes along with this class.

References and sketches are included as well.

🎨 Suggested Art Materials

In this class, you’ll only need one color and high-quality watercolor paper.

Watercolor Paper

I recommend using 100% cotton watercolor paper, around 9×12 to 10×14 inches.

Painting on high-quality cotton paper is very important. It allows you to work in layers without accidentally lifting color when you continue painting or re-wet the surface. It also gives you more control and better results when using wet-on-wet techniques.

A slightly larger sheet gives your paint more space to flow and blend, allowing for softer transitions and more expressive brushwork.

Recommended papers:

Arches (Cold Pressed 140 lb)
Saunders Waterford
Canson Heritage
Magnani (Rough 140 lb — softer texture than most rough papers)
Hahnemühle The Collection (Rough)
Hahnemühle Leonardo
Baohong Artist Cold Pressed (a good alternative — behaves closer to rough paper)

Note: Magnani and Hahnemühle papers are vegan. Others are typically sized with gelatin (animal-based).

Watercolor Brushes

You’ll need a few different brushes:

A larger flat brush for wetting the paper
A soft, round brush or quill for applying paint
A rigger brush for very fine lines (like hair or feather details)
Smaller brushes for details like the eyes

I recommend working mainly with a soft round or quill brush for most of the painting.

Examples (these are what I used — feel free to use what you already have):

Round 8 “Golden 1” – Maria Raczynska
Round 8 “Golden 2” – Maria Raczynska
Long Quill 2, 4 “Songbird” – Maria
Rigger 2 “Songbird” – Maria
Round 2, 3 “Songbird” – Maria
Flat 40 “Casaneo” – da Vinci
Flat 24 “Songbird” – Maria

Watercolor Pigments

Each bird is painted using just one color:

Indigo – Kookaburra
Vandyke Brown – Owl
Neutral Tint – Flamingo

Additional Supplies:

Masking fluid for watercolors

Wax stick (optional)

Sketch

When you’re ready, you’ll begin with your sketch.

You can either:

Print the sketch provided in this class
Or draw it yourself

I recommend tracing the outline first. Once the proportions are correct, you can begin adding details.

Other Materials

A small towel (essential for controlling water on your brush)
Paper towel (for additional lifting if needed)
Three small jars of clean water
A plastic palette (or even a dinner plate)
Good lighting — ideally two lamps with daylight bulbs, plus a headlamp if you have one

💡 If You’re New

If you’re completely new to wet-on-wet or lifting, I recommend starting with this course:

Watercolor Mastery – Apples

Deepti Mittal

Watercolor Artist

54

63