Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Basic Painting Tips And Tricks For Beginners Bird Art Lessons

By Kenneth Martin


Using birds, and wildlife in general, as reference is great for improving painting skills. This does not only train the eye for observation but also helps teach how to give life to a piece of non moving art. Among very many different subjects, birds are useful since they are not that difficult but are challenging enough for beginners.

There are over 10,500 species of birds and this makes picking one type to paint difficult. One basic knowledge in beginners bird art lessons are to consider the different cultural and poetic meaning of a bird before choosing it as a subject. This allows the painter to tell a good story or find some metaphorical depth in the piece.

It is advised to choose a reference photo and then choose a medium. For a more detailed and impressionistic vibe, go for acrylic or oil. For a more fluid and soft effect, go for ink or watercolor.

Starting off with a sketch, it is vital to know the basic anatomy of any subject. Proper anatomy is one major key to getting a painting right. Visually speaking, birds are comprised of four basic parts. These are the head, body, wings and the tail. A general rule for bird anatomy is that their bodies are drop shaped and one the feathers on one wing always mirror the opposite wing.

Knowledge on the basics of colors, shadow and light is a must for any painter. It is always handy to have a sample image when referencing wildlife. Choosing colors at this point should be taken from the reference. The trick is in blending the colors and making sure that the shadows and the highlights emphasize the right parts of the subject.

There is no limit or necessary number of brushes needed to finish a painting. It all depends on the artist and the medium that is being used. The types of brushes an artist uses also rests on the brush strokes used to create the preferred effect.

Putting in the details vary in preference. One reason why acrylic is a good medium to start with is the simplicity in adding details without working so much with opacity and other fluid dynamics of the paint. Putting in details rely on the lighting that is implied. Controlling and showing the right amount of dark and lights shows the its feathers and other parts.

Even with the technicality that comes with art, the more important part is enjoying the whole activity. Allow yourself room for improvement to have a chance to study birds, or any preferred subject, better. The happy mistakes are the ones that make the painting more appealing and gives it its trademark.

Painting requires little technicality but more on enjoying the process of observing nature. Go out, go bird watching or even just gather as many references until the perfect picture pops in your head it will be a lot of fun. Birds are free and the painter must be as such while studying this particular subject, whether a beginner or an expert.




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