Morning Sing Song - Step 6

Back this guy tonight....  I am slowly working on defining his body using my basic colours (sepia, burnt sienna, indigo, purpite (purple)) and now I am introducing fine strokes of Chinese white watercolour.  I find that the white adds just a hint of reflection to the feathers and add that little extra dimension to the body.

I am almost finished his body, just the wings a little more on his feet to go.  Then, on the the branch and I am done!  Good thing too, I have a million more ideas for paintings to work one.

Morning Sing Song
4" x 6" watercolour

© 2013

Candied II - Work in Progress, Step 3

I've been bad with updates this last week (sorry), but just haven't had too much spare time outside work and everything else in life to do much painting.  I did manage to sit down the other night and work on my apple a little more. 

Candied II
Photo Reference by Michael King
6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas

© 2013

Candied II - Work in Progress, Step 2

I've been slowly working on the underlayer to this one that I started a couple weeks back.  It is probably going to take a couple passes at the underlayer before I am satisfied enough to start adding in the colours.  So far, I'm liking it, though I am not completely satisfied with the left side of the apple.  It has a little of the 'over worked' look.  Will have to wait until the paint dries a bit before I do anything more with it.

Candied II
Photo Reference by Michael King
6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas

© 2013

Morning Sing Song - WIP Step 5

Gosh, has it really been nearly two weeks since my last post?  I've been painting... but not on art.  Been giving my kitchen a much needed updated by painting the cabinets a beautiful creamy ivory.  In between coats I have been working on a couple paintings.  One, the cute little guy below, and the other I'll post tomorrow. 

Though it may not look like it, the little guy below has actually received quite a lot of work... mostly slowly adding colour to the breast and shadows.  I'm pretty happy with the way he is turning out and I hope to finish him soon.  Tomorrow is a stat holiday for my day job so I will have lots of time to do some painting. 

Morning Sing Song
4" x 6" watercolour

© 2013

Morning Sing Song - WIP Step 4

Been busy the last couple days with my day job so I haven't had too much time for painting.  Today, a big snow storm blew through so I took a little break late in the afternoon and got some more on this guy done. 

Starting to work on the body, adding a collection of colours:  indigo, sepia, burnt sienna, and my absolute favourite 'warm' shadow colour: Daniel Smith Purpurite Genuine.  The colours are added using my favourite brush, a 000 round, and small strokes to create the depth and lightness of the birds. 

Stay tuned for more updates this weekend!

Morning Sing Song
4" x 6" watercolour

© 2013

Morning Sing Song - WIP Step 3

More tonight, starting to work on the chickadee himself just to get a feel for the colours that will be used.  Much more colour will come to the painting as I start working on the body....  But the head (and the eye) must be done first.  Otherwise, the rest just seems out of place. 

Morning Sing Song
4" x 6" watercolour

© 2013

Morning Sing Song - WIP Step 2

A little further tonight, starting to work on the branch and the moss using my favourite Daniel Smith colours: Rich Green Gold, Indigo, Sepia, and Undersea Green. The texture on the moss is achieved using negative painting (adding the lightest colours first, than adding the shadows).  Also, any blooms that appear in the wet paint are preserved... I love the little extra randomness it adds.  The texture on the branch is a combination of wet and dry brushing. 

Morning Sing Song
4" x 6" watercolour

© 2013

Morning Sing Song - WIP

While my oil painting is drying, I thought I would start on another watercolour painting.  I absolutely love the pose of this guy... a little different from my usual pose as it is a more 'forward' look than what I normally paint.  So far, I've sketched him (picture on the left) and started laying in the background colour:  a combination of cobalt blue and ultramarine blue.  I'm loving it so far!

Morning Sing Song
4" x 6" watercolour

© 2013

Candied II - Work in Progress

I originally painted this one way back in 2009 and I thought I would give it a go again, just to see how my style of painting has changed over the last couple years.  I am using the same reference photo and the same style and size of canvas, though my choice in colours is a tad bit different (I've collected a few new colours since then).  Just like in 2009, I am starting with a tonal layer from which I will add the colours, in layers, on top.  I have to admit, I am kinda excited to see just how my painting style has changed!

Candied II
Photo Reference by Michael King
6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas

© 2013

Little Bluebird

I can't believe that it is already February, where did January go??  My little bluebird painting is now complete... well, I will let it sit for a little while and look at it again just to make sure that there isn't anything I want to change.  This little guy was an absolute pleasure to paint.  My palette was kept simple:  indigo, sepia, sienna, a touch of white for a few highlights, and ultramarine blue for the wings.  My favourite paintings, I find, tend to be the ones with the simplest palettes.

Little Bluebird
Photo Reference:  Alan and Elaine Wilson

watercolour 4" x 6" © 2013