When you paint feathers starting from the outer edges of the bird and work your way towards its eyes, you will be able to layer feathers more effectively and they will be more natural looking because you'll be stacking them like roof tiles.
The layers of materials that go into building a roof (the frame, panels, and tile) are just like how I build up and layer feathers in a painting. I have found it helpful to break commonsense painting rules here - instead of painting left to right, top to bottom, I paint the final layer of feathers from the outside in.
I do this because this is how feathers lay on top of each other on the body of the bird. To me, it makes a lot more sense to paint from the edges towards the center because feathers generally point down or to the side. When you’ve already painted what’s underneath them, it’s easier to pull your paintbrush down and overtop of what you’ve painted.
Links to supplies mentioned are below:
- 1/8 inch angled brush: bit.ly/p-1-8-a...
- 1/4 inch angled brush: bit.ly/p-1-4-a...
- 1/4 inch filbert brush: bit.ly/silver-...
- 0 round brush: bit.ly/sw-0-round
- 5/0 round brush (this is the smallest size brush - great for details!): bit.ly/sw-5-0-...
- X-small triangle brush: bit.ly/silver-...
- Medium triangle brush: bit.ly/silver-...
- Safflower Oil (now using Linseed Oil): bit.ly/gamblin...
The 5 main colors I use for feathers in this painting and other bird paintings are:
- Burnt Umber (PBr7): bit.ly/ws-aop-b...
- Ultramarine Blue (PB29): bit.ly/ws-aop-u...
- Ivory Black (PBk9): bit.ly/ws-aop-i...
- Raw Sienna (PY42 and PY43): bit.ly/ws-aop-r...
- Titanium White (PW6): bit.ly/gamblin...
*I am now primarily using Michael Harding and Rublev oil paints, which are linseed oil-based. Many of Winsor and Newton's paints are safflower oil blends, which create a weaker paint film. If you'd like to try Michael Harding's versions of these paints, please see the links below.*
- Burnt Umber (PBr6): bit.ly/mh-burn...
- Ultramarine Blue (PB29): bit.ly/mh-ultr...
- Ivory Black (PBk9): bit.ly/mh-ivor...
- Yellow Ochre Deep (PY43): bit.ly/mh-yell...
- Titanium White No 1 (PW6): bit.ly/mh-tita...
Feel free to ask any questions!
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My site: www.nikitacoul...
List of essential studio supplies: www.nikitacoul...
Preferred paints: www.dropbox.co...
Instagram: / nikitacoulombe
Prints and merchandise: nikita-coulomb...
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