Watercolor birds are a joy to paint, and BlueJays are a perennial favorite! Their vibrant blue feathers look great in any setting - from summer rose bushes to winter trees.

In this class, you will learn how to paint this beautiful bird step-by-step as I walk you through my painting process in real time, with detailed instructions. I will also provide you with detailed recommendations regarding the materials and techniques I use for bird paintings, and provide a list of alternative brands and products you may wish to consider.

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What you can expect to learn in this class:

Layering watercolors to achieve a vibrant realistic result with intricate details: from the Background wash, to Definition and Accent washes,
Applying masking fluid: when and why,
Building a perfect palette: including base color, highlights and shadow pigments, as well as the supporting colors to help you boost the vibrant blues on the feathers,
Interpreting light and how it affects your color choices,
Using brush strokes that bring your bird paintings to life - from small feathers to intricate patterns.

A bonus lesson will include a demonstration of the Scarlet Japanese Rowan including berries and leafs. Of course, you may choose to place your bluejay on any tree branch or flower bush of your choice - the vibrant blue feathers will look gratin any setting! Check out some of the compositions I've painted recently, featuring bluejays:

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This class is suitable for intermediate artists who are already comfortable with the basic watercolor techniques, including wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry. But if you are a beginner, I would encourage you to challenge yourself and try a few lessons so you can get more comfortable with the layering techniques, and learn more about the palette building.

Happy painting!

Ted Gavlin

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