Classical Oil Painting for Naturalist Bird Portraiture

Learn the fundamentals of drawing and painting to create a realistic oil portrait using the alla prima technique

• Introduction
• The Fundamentals: Materials, Sight-Size Technique, and Drawing
• Oil Painting Process and Technique
• Varnishing and Photographing Your Painting
• Final project

“Art should strive to convey the beauty of its subjects.”

Realist painter Sarah Margaret Gibson uses the delicate nature of oil paint to recreate vivid interpretations of the natural world. She affirms that classical painting is not outdated, but rather as relevant and captivating now as it has ever been. Through her work, she depicts the intimate, quiet moments of birds that appear as if they’re about to fly off the portrait.

In this course, Sarah takes you through the fundamentals of drawing and oil painting through naturalistic bird portraiture. She explores the alla prima technique, or wet-on-wet painting, and teaches you the sight-size method. Discover her unique tenebris-style that gravitates between observation and aesthetic composition. Learn how to paint from nature and watch your bird come to life on canvas.

• About Me
• Inspiration
• Preparation of Materials 1
• Preparation of Materials 2
• The Basics of Sight-Size Technique
• The Fundamentals of Drawing: Construct 1
• The Fundamentals of Drawing: Construct 2
• The Fundamentals of Drawing: Light and Shadow Pattern
• The Fundamentals of Drawing: Values
• The Fundamentals of Drawing: Modeling and Rendering
• Colour Mixing and Palette Organisation 1
• Colour Mixing and Palette Organisation 2
• Colour Mixing and Palette Organisation 3
• Monochromatic Underpainting 1
• Monochromatic Underpainting 2
• Triangulating Values
• Blocking in the Colours of the Bird 1
• Blocking in the Colours of the Bird 2
• Painting the Background
• Finishing Touches: Impastos, Details, and Edges 1
• Finishing Touches: Impastos, Details, and Edges 2
• Varnishing Your Finished Painting
• How to Take a Dynamic Photo for Social Media
• Classical Oil Painting for Naturalist Bird Portraiture