Swan in Watercolour

Techniques from this workshop can be applied to other birds. We’ll use a simple selection of colors and values by altering the proportion of one color to another and the amount of water we add to each mixture.

Look closely at the detail of the birds below especially of the individual body parts- how they are shaped and their proportions to other parts of the body. Is the tail wide or narrow? Long or short? Is the beak thick or long and slender? Are the legs and feet thick and powerful or thin and delicate?

What will you learn?

· Creating a painting of a beautiful swan

· Learning the anatomy of a swan and other birds

· Learn how to stretch watercolour paper

· How to create your own transfer paper for future paintings

· Protecting our whites with masking fluid

First thing to do is to PRINT:

· the photo reference

· this instruction guide

· transfer image of swan (two sizes available)

#1 transfer fitting watercolour paper 11” x 15” or

#2 two transfer sheets to join for a half sheet of watercolour (22” x 15”)

-PAPER: 140lb or 200lb Acid free good quality Watercolour Paper Half sheet stretch. Larger sheets should be stretched and stapled to a board or a smaller sheet taped to a board

· Paints: Alizarin crimson, Ultramarine blue, Cerulean blue, Burnt sienna, Burnt umber, Winsor blue, Turquoise, Indigo, New gamboges or Gamboges hue

· Brushes: Flat brushes (2 in, 1in, ¼ in) Round brushes (12, 10, 8, 6,4) Rigor brush

· Misc... mechanical pencil, HB pencil, ball point pen, kneaded eraser, masking fluid, toothpicks, water dish & bottle, paper towels, masking tape, plastic spoon, small dishes

Tape the computer transfer sheet to a window or lightbox, so that the backside lines can be traced with a lead pencil. Once finished, flip the transfer paper to the front side and put to small pieces of tape on the top and tape it to the watercolour paper. Use a pen and go over again all the lines.

Do not press to hard or there will be indentations into the watercolour paper.

Remove the transfer paper and now re-draw (with a mechanical pencil) some of the lines so that you know its features. Look at the reference provided and draw in the details. By doing all these steps, you are beginning to know your subject such as the shape of eyes, the wide tail feathers, long neck and beak. The feet are neatly tucked in while floating and barely seen. Use a kneaded eraser and dab any excess graphite off the watercolour paper. (It will cause smudges if left on)

What is masking fluid? Masking fluid is latex-rubber fluid that is applied to your watercolor paper, will work as a resistant, preserving the white paper or wash underneath.

It is often referred to as "frisket".

Pour masking fluid in a plastic spoon. Dip your toothpick in the masking fluid or frisket and apply to the white areas of the water, especially the drops off the paddles.

Apply masking fluid or frisket with a toothpick around the swan edges, bottom feathers & beak. We do not use white paint, but we use the white of the paper which can be protected by using this medium. Air dry.

WET on WET on water: Make medium value washes of the following colours: Cerulean blue, Turquoise, Winsor blue, and a Violet (Alizarin crimson and Ultramarine blue). Wet the paper around the swan with a large flat brush. Make sure the paper is damp. Wait for 2 minutes and paint with these washes starting with violet at the bottom, then paint clockwise with the Violet, Turquoise, Cerulean blue, ending with the Winsor blue allowing each colour intermixing with each other.WET on WET on water: Make medium value washes of the following colours: Cerulean blue, Turquoise, Winsor blue, and a Violet (Alizarin crimson and Ultramarine blue). Wet the paper around the swan with a large flat brush. Make sure the paper is damp. Wait for 2 minutes and paint with these washes starting with violet at the bottom, then paint clockwise with the Violet, Turquoise, Cerulean blue, ending with the Winsor blue allowing each colour intermixing with each other.

Make a large wash of Indigo (predominant colour), Burnt umber and Winsor blue. Begin on the left side of the swan and paint around the swan counterclockwise. Use the provided reference, to determine your paint strokes. The darkest areas are directly under the swan and on the top right corner.

Remove all the masking fluid around the edge of the swan, leaving the inside masking fluid untouched.

By adding shadows at this point, you will start to become familiar with the subject and the highlights. Make a medium wash of Ultramarine blue and Alizarin crimson and paint the shadows of the feathers leaving the whites for high lights.

Use two brushes, one to apply and the other to soften one edge.

Remove the remaining masking fluid. Add Burnt umber to the Violet mixture in the previous lecture.

When applying, think about the shape of the wet feathers along the neck and the body.

Mix Alizarin crimson with Gamboges Hue to paint the beak. It is up to the artist, if you wish to make it pale pink or orange. There are many species of swans!

Use some these colours to paint the lower core feathers.

Mix Indigo and Burnt umber to create a dark wash. Paint the Eye, Knob, Nares and Lore. Air dry

Take a look at your painting at a distance. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you need to add more darks to the beak, or eye?

2. Does your painting need more reflective colour in the water? If so lift with a wet brush.

3. Are you able to see wings and smaller feathers?

4. Do you need to paint darker areas of the water especially at the bottom left and right?

· Creating a painting of a beautiful swan

· How to create your own transfer paper for future paintings

· Protecting our whites with both masking fluid

· Learn how to stretch watercolour paper

We all have ORIGINALS! Smile and give yourself a pat on the back!