Painting Demonstration 1
I begin with very light drybrush on the chick looking at me. I'm starting with just 3 pigments, nickel azo yellow, cobalt violet and quinacridone rust. The chick is covered in light, fluffy down, so my brush strokes need to stay very light.
Flying Chick Reference Photo
Disclaimer: Jennifer Branch Gallery is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. I receive a small rebate for your entire order (starting at 4%) if you choose to purchase through Amazon. Most items can be bought multiple places and I highly recommend local art stores if you have one! Any other recommendation links I receive no compensation for.
These referrals help me support this website, and I thank you for any purchase you make through them. I will never recommend a product I have not used frequently and believe is the best tool for the purpose!
Painting Demonstration 2
I darken and dull the shadows with cobalt violet and a touch of quinacridone rust. I lightly sketch a shadow to ground it.
Painting Demonstration 3
I start painting the flapping chick with quinacridone rust and nickel azo yellow. This chick is in motion, trying out her wings, so she'll be a little more blurred than the first.
Artist's Tips
Keep your brush stokes dry and light for the fluffy down.Painting Demonstration 4
More cool shadows and a lot of splatter! Have fun with the splattering. It keeps things loose and not serious!
Painting Demonstration 5
Add a little bit of focus to the face by painting the eye. I'm going back with a flick of white gouache later so I don't reserve a white reflection.
The feathers are so much fun to paint. Just sweep your brush lightly along each distinct feather. Remember, only one side of a feather is an angle. The other side has different lighting!
Painting Demonstration 6
A bit more shadows, just building up the fluff! This is where it's very easy to get too heavy, so keep each layer light and work around the sketch.
Painting Demonstration 7
Finishing up the details. Don't forget bird's legs are segmented, so they reflect in striations.
Final Watercolor Sketch!
I finished with a few touches of white gouache on the eyes and a faint blur on the raised leg. I also softened the highlight on the raised leg a little.
This is such a fun little sketch. I really enjoyed doing it and the memories of my kids and dog running around herding the chickens.
As you are painting, the only thing to keep in mind is keep a light hand. I showed my palette in the YouTube video so you could see there weren't puddles of pigment, but just dry scribbles. When you're painting a baby's portrait you barely touch the paper - same thing with these babies!
I hope this inspires you to go paint spring!
Related Art Lessons
Tracking cookies are used on JenniferBranch.com, PaintingWatercolor.com and BranchStudio.com. I use cookies from Google Analytics to evaluate my website performance so I can improve it. No information from you is ever transferred or sold by me. I value my privacy and yours.
All Paintings, Images, Videos, Text and Website Design Copyright 2019 by Jennifer Branch.
All Rights Reserved.
No Image, Video, Text or Website Design may be used without my written, specific permission.
]