Melinda Wilde

Experience Watercolours: Paint a Chickadee

Hi Again Margaret...what a cute little bird...some kind of honey creeper or fly catcher? Anyway you did a great job on birdy. The photo which I'm really glad you included, was taken with a flash. Flash photos are quite frankly a pain in the ass! While they do show details well, they flatten out things. So it is hard to see the roundness. Your physical details are accurate but he lacks 3D plumpness. You can achieve this by using, very carefully, a glaze of ultra marine under the beak on the part of the neck that dips in a bit, and on the breast all the way down to the legs and even past that to the tail. This MUST have a soft edge as it goes in to the bird. The other thing about the photo is that the bird and the background are similar in value. I think your piece would really pop if you used say Prussian and Burnt Sienna and maybe some Turquoise in the background, very intensely, still leaving those white edges that you have (which is great). Even without doing the plumping up, if you darken the background about 7 values more, it will make a huge difference. Don't worry about creating any forest images, just get the deep colour on there. Hope this isn't too harsh but I think you are ready! Have fun!

Margaret, you amaze me! For a beginner you are doing super well. Your lighter background is just fine with the darkness of your hummer. You could put a dark background on after the bird if you want. Just have your dark colours ready and moisten a larger area than you are going to paint to avoid hard edges. . Do it in chunks. I have done this many time but used the mask for the class as I think it is easier for students to be more successful. I am not a mask fan either. Don't forget to leave the tiny white edge here and there on his outside edges to suggest light. Branch could use a titch more shading on the twig closest to the bird. Excellent beak as that is where so many peeps lose it. Nice light in the eye. So glad you enjoyed the class and thanks for taking it!

omg---I am so happy to have found you. I need the advise to grow.  I love watercolor and practice alot.  Most of the classes - you just imitate someone else's work and get no feedback.  I do appreciate ALL your suggestions.  Thank you.  Sleep good tonight knowing you are a good caring teacher.

thank you Margaret; you're kind comments are much appreciated!

i put up another attempt--lol -teach me some more when you have time

I tried to follow your great suggestions but I messed him up—-I should have started over from scratch

melinda--just checking--did you see how I messed him up

I can see you tried the shading and you got a nice smooth interior edge. Good job leaving the white edges here and there.  I think he pops a lot more but you might try lifting a bit of highlight on his breast.  Just use a clean thirsty brush and moisten and blot.  Yes background is a bit boring. You might try using clear water to painting some trunks , let it sit for a moment and then blot.  Don't give up!

<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/8b1e62a3f8f0b42f4c27743009c59bda/aa9d289c.jpeg" alt="New attempt - image 1 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/8b1e62a3f8f0b42f4c27743009c59bda/aa9d289c.jpeg 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/8b1e62a3f8f0b42f4c27743009c59bda/aa9d289c.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">Rewatched class&mdash;tried to take your advise from last attempt&mdash;please teach me again!!!<img style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;" src="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/8b1e62a3f8f0b42f4c27743009c59bda/f1cd8393.jpeg" alt="New attempt - image 2 - student project" srcset="https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=600,format=auto/uploads/project/8b1e62a3f8f0b42f4c27743009c59bda/f1cd8393.jpeg 600w, https://static.skillshare.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=80,width=1000,format=auto/uploads/project/8b1e62a3f8f0b42f4c27743009c59bda/f1cd8393.jpeg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 600px, 100vw" loading="lazy">

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