Watercolor BlueJay: Pro Techniques Explained

Watercolor birds are a joy to paint, and BlueJays are a perennial favorite! Their vibrant blue feathers look great in any setting - from summer rose bushes to winter trees.  

In this class, you will learn how to paint this beautiful bird step-by-step as I walk you through my painting process in real time, with detailed instructions. I will also provide you with detailed recommendations regarding the materials and techniques I use for bird paintings, and provide a list of alternative brands and products you may wish to consider.  

What you can expect to learn in this class:

• Layering watercolors to achieve a vibrant realistic result with intricate details: from the Background wash, to Definition and Accent washes,
• Applying masking fluid: when and why,
• Building a perfect palette: including base color, highlights and shadow pigments, as well as the supporting colors to help you boost the vibrant blues on the feathers,
• Interpreting light and how it affects your color choices,
• Using brush strokes that bring your bird paintings to life - from small feathers to intricate patterns.

A bonus lesson will include a demonstration of the Scarlet Japanese Rowan including berries and leafs. Of course, you may choose to place your bluejay on any tree branch or flower bush of your choice - the vibrant blue feathers will look gratin any setting! Check out some of the compositions I've painted recently, featuring bluejays:

This class is suitable for intermediate artists who are already comfortable with the basic watercolor techniques, including wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry. But if you are a beginner, I would encourage you to challenge yourself and try a few lessons so you can get more comfortable with the layering techniques, and learn more about the palette building. 

Happy painting!

• Introduction
• Supplies & Tools
• Color Palette
• Your Project & Process Overview
• Step 1: Outline & Mask
• Step 2: Background Layer
• Step 3(a): Definition Layer (Body)
• Step 3(b): Definition Layer (Head)
• Step 4(a): Accent Layer (Body)
• Step 4(b): Accent Layer (Head)
• BONUS Lesson: Scarlet Rowan Berries
• Final Thoughts