This is the third article in The Colored Pencil Bird series. As an example, I will show the step-by-step drawing on a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher, but the tips and techniques included in these articles can be applied to any bird drawing. After this, check out how to draw the wings & tail and the feet. The…
Continue reading How to Draw the Head and Body of a Gnatcatcher with Colored Pencils
This is the first article in The Colored Pencil Bird series. As an example, I will show the step-by-step drawing of a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher, but the tips and techniques included in these articles can be applied to any bird drawing. After the eye, check out how to draw the beak, head & body, wings &…
Continue reading How to Draw a Bird’s Eye with Colored Pencils
This is the second article in The Colored Pencil Bird series. As an example, I will show the step-by-step drawing of a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher, but the tips and techniques included in these articles can be applied to any bird drawing. After the beak, check out how to draw the head & body, wings & tail,…
Continue reading How to Draw a Realistic Beak with Colored Pencils
In this tutorial, I will share one of my favorite watercolor techniques: edge-softening. This is useful for most detailed paintings and is especially helpful in creating realistic shadows. I will demonstrate the technique on a flower, but it can be used for any subject. Try this on a practice sheet of paper until you feel…
Continue reading Edge-Softening Watercolor Technique for Realistic Shadows
This intermediate level watercolor tutorial will teach you how to paint a Blue-Headed Parrot. If you are new to painting birds with watercolor, you can still try this, but you might find this tutorial easier to start with. In this painting we will primarily use wet on wet and edge-softening techniques. For color harmony, select…
This tutorial will teach you how to create a beginner friendly, loose, and creative bird painting with watercolor. This project is fun and the result is a nice piece of artwork. You can follow along and paint the Baltimore Oriole; or use the methods to paint a different bird of your choice. Supplies Needed Watercolor…
Continue reading How to Paint a Bird with Watercolors – Quick and Simple
Hummingbirds can be tricky subjects to photograph, as they are almost always on the move, but it is not so hard once you learn the techniques. I will focus on how I have learned to do it with a bridge camera, but most should apply to DSLR or mirrorless users as well. I have broken…
Continue reading Hummingbird Photography with a Bridge Camera – Techniques and Settings
Using an out-of-focus background will help your subject stand out while also saving you time compared with drawing a detailed background There are many ways of creating this effect, but I’ll share several that I have tried, along with when to use them. Depending on the supplies you have, you may choose to use one…
Continue reading Top 4 Methods to Create an Out-of-focus Background for a Colored Pencil Drawing