YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Your class project is to paint this beautiful Hummingbird using 3 very simple layers. Don't be intimidated by the complexity of the painting, rather watch the class once through and see how simply each area is applied. Instead of looking at it like a painting, see it for what it is, blobs of different coloured water allowed to dry on top of each other!

MATERIALS

PAINT

As in all of my classes I stress that value is more important that colour. Don't worry so much about the exact colours rather get the right tonal values ( lights and darks ) in the right areas. Of course feel free to use the same colours I use, I have them listed below as well they pop up in the videos and of course you see them on the palette.

I use a palette that I allow my paint to dry in the wells. I rewet the paints when I want to use them, (shown in the materials video).

REMEMBER water is an ingredient in watercolour paint. With artist grade watercolour paint, water is the only part of the paint that evaporates when it dries, so you can simply just rewet the paint, let it sit for a minute or two and you are good to go.

Currently the paints on my palette are from Daniel Smith. The colours I used in this class are:

Phthalo Turquoise
Phthalo Blue Red Shade
Indigo
Green Gold
Sepia
Cadmium Red Med Hue
Cadmium Yellow Light Hue

On the final touch ups I use

White Gouache

The paper I used for this painting is Fabriano Soft Press, feel free to use Cold press or even hot press. You will have different drying times with hot press and the paint will create different watermarks when it dries but I quite like the results and go back and forth between the two. That being said, I have used both a lot and know the results I will get. For learning I always suggest you stick to the same materials until you know the results you will get using different techniques.

BRUSHES

I use a squirrel hair mob brush for my first layer because it holds a lot of water, use any brush you like as a general rule for my painting style I suggest you use the largest brush you can to achieve what you are trying to accomplish. I use a smaller synthetic mop brush for the second layer along with a number 2 round synthetic brush for the details and the final layer.

Pencil - I use Faber Castell Water soluble HB pencils so I do not have to erase a lot of lines.

Of course you are going to want clean water, some tissue or paper towel.

I use a hair dryer to dry each layer because I am impatient and do not like to spend too much time watching paint dry.

Ok Lets get started!

I know you want to dive right in... I am impatient too but I strongly suggest watching the video through even skim through to see what we are doing on each later vs trying to keep your paint wet and figure it out as we go along. Sometimes I move quick because I want the paint to stay wet so having a idea of what's coming up next can be very helpful.

Drawing your Hummingbird

Drawing is an excellent skill and it will definitely help you in the long run to become a better artist. That being said, watercolour painting is hard enough on its own. There is no rule that says you need to learn one before the other. I often hear from people that just building up the nerve to sketch out the painting before starting often prevents them from starting. Regardless of what you are learning use what ever tool you can to help you. Even the Old Masters used drawing tools and aides, some even had apprentices do it for them! I have included a simple outline that you can use to trace onto your watercolour paper. The outline will print out onto a letter size sheet of paper. Tape it to a bright window and hold your watercolour paper over top and trace away. Hint. If you can't see the lines just go over them with a black marker.

When you are finished your painting please be sure to share it by creating a project under the project and resources section. See the screenshot below.

SPECIAL NOTE

In this class I have a review after each layer, this is to help you see how your paint dries after each later is applied. This is a key take away in this class, watercolour paintings are essentially dried coloured water on paper. Studying how the paint dries after you apply it is a critical lesson in learning this wonderful medium.

I have included a high res image of the first and second layer after drying, the third layer is the finished painting.

Karen Finlay

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