Wild birds
can come in many shapes, sizes and colors, but the process for painting each one may be standardized to make the process easier.
Bird's aren't the easiest subjects to paint. They often have complex feather arrangements and designs that are difficult to reproduce accurately. However, like any other subject, breaking down the birds into manageable pieces makes the task of painting them realistic even for relatively inexperienced artists. As you practice painting wild birds you'll find yourself becoming accustomed to reproducing their small detailed bodies.
Instructions
1. Find a subject to paint. Unless they're dead or sleeping, most birds won't hold still for a portrait sitting, so you're better off looking for pictures of wild birds online and in books and magazines. You can find these pictures by visiting your local library, or by typing "wild birds" into your online search engine. Alternatively, if you're fortunate enough to live in an area where birds are often available for viewing, take a camera outside and shoot pictures yourself. You'll want an image that is high resolution, well-lit and relatively large.
2. Draw a simple grid over the photograph you're drawing from, dividing the photograph into 6 to 10 equal parts. This grid will help you draw the layout of what you see in the photograph onto the canvas. Next, draw on the canvas a grid equal to the grid you drew on the photograph.
3. Draw the outline of the bird and the basic feather structure on the canvas, using the grid. Draw what you see in each box. The point of the grid is to break the structure of the photograph into small, easy to reproduce parts. Don't draw details or textures---just draw the most basic shapes of each form or figure within the photograph. You'll also want to give consideration to the background. Wild birds are generally found in nature, not bird cages. Draw the natural habitat of the bird, as you see it in the photograph.
4. Paint the base color of the bird, filling in the outline you drew in step 3. Paint directly over the grid. Some wild birds, such as eagles, owls and hawks, are camouflaged to blend with their surroundings. This means their feathers generally will be brown, gray and cream. Other species of birds, like those found in tropical climates, will appear in bright, flamboyant colors like red, orange, yellow, green and blue. Avoid adding details with the first layer of paint; only paint these base colors as they appear on the bird. Use a large- to medium-sized round or flat paintbrush. Add a flat layer of paint to the background. Don't add details, highlights or shadows. At this time, only paint the flat layer of greens, browns or blues as you see them in the photograph's background.
5. Paint some of the details on the birds, over the base color you applied in step 4. Use a smaller round paintbrush. These details should not be the most minor details, but the larger, more significant details like large striping on the bird's wings, the bird's eyes and major shadows and highlights.
6. Paint some of the smaller details on the birds, such as the lines of individual feathers, smaller highlights and shadows, and the tiny nostrils in the beak. Use a small round brush for this step. Flick your eyes back and forth between the photograph and the painting to check the accuracy of the painting. Compare the colors in the painting to the colors in the photograph, and also the shapes.
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