The richness of a plumage requires a combination of several effects. How do you go about it?
This subject is approached in 2 distinct ways: on wet paper and on a dry surface. The richness of a varied range of colours will give depth to this bird.
Execution time: 2-3 hours
Materials used:
Draw the outline of the bird and the details of the feathers with a pencil.
Wet the bird's wings and body. Apply a yellow/orange tone.
Accentuate the contrasts by adding vermilion and sienna, keeping the paper wet.
Paint the head emerald green and the beak orange.
Darken the lower right wing using indigo and Payne grey.
Continue adding details with the same mixture. Work on the feathers one by one. After applying watercolour, add a little water with a fine brush to create gradients. You can also moisten certain areas of the body to add subtle dark touches. The natural action of Canson® Montval® paper, water and pigments will suggest variations in the plumage.
Define the head and beak by darkening with the same indigo/sienna mixture.
Once everything is dry, moisten the background with a large brush.
Don't overload the sky. Leave some free spaces. Suggest diagonals passing behind the bird to create perspective.
