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Tips For Painting 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.

One factor in choosing the right medium is the painters personality. For people who are impatient to wait for paint to dry, acrylics and watercolor are great choices. Oils usually take so long and are a bit tedious, but the effect it gives is worth the wait. Ink is also very famous for nature paintings, especially for those that prefer intricate and delicate work.

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.

Choosing the colors to go on a painting can be a bit tricky. Mixing colors also becomes simpler with basic color knowledge. Note, that while it is possible to mix different brands of paint, this is not always true with different types of media. Just like how acrylic can be a base on a canvas for an oil piece, but not oil paint as a base for an acrylic painting.

While there is a standard, artists always have a unique way of using their tools. It is a matter of preference, but the medium used play a large role. Using ink is very famous for nature paintings and this usually just requires a pointed round bamboo paint brush. Very similar to the ones used in Asian Calligraphy. More detailed work require different types of brushes ranging from pointed, to round and fanned.

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.

Lastly, for the piece to look natural, it is important to allow some leg room for mistakes. These happy accidents are what helps any piece of art steer away from monotony. The random asymmetry suggests the free flowing yet organized nature of birds and the life that they portray.

Whether it be birds or flowers, wildlife pieces always makes a good study. Remember, technicalities are only guidelines to make the art. Enjoying the whole creative process of working with a reference is more important and is one of the best experiences a beginner can have.




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