Acrylics

For this demonstration I will be painting a favourite bird of mine, a Red Capped Robin. Having selected a photograph, I draw the bird using grids to help me keep correct proportions.

Carefully draw outline shapes of each duck. Add in areas of reflection and water movements. The ducks were feeding at the time I saw them, so I added several lines in line with their bodies, but left area in front of the ducks.

For the base coat, I used an application of washes in complementary colours which would show through to the finished work; then I applied the shadowed areas in Violet.

Working from several reference photographs I decide to paint a dry sclerophyll forest scene. I want to create a painting that captures the strength and beauty of tall gums and the atmosphere of a forest on a misty morning with the sunlight illuminating the trees.

After reviewing the photographic reference, I choose the ones I feel best represent the model and the pose. I put all other reference material away and out of sight to concentrate only on the chosen photos.

For the rainbow background, I lightly sponged on paint allowing the white of the canvas to show through to suggest a dappled light effect.

STEP ONE
Take photos of your preferred fish, and then prime your canvas. Sketch your fish.

With an old brush – a badly looked after round bristle is my favourite – draw in the main areas of the scene.

Start with a strong all-over background colour of Phthalo Blue mixed with a touch of Phthalo Green to create a vibrant summer feel to the entire painting.

I roughly painted my canvas by using up remaining paints from a previous painting in earthy tones. I rubbed out some areas and added more paint into sections and left any marks that will represent the dry earth and twigs etc.