Having had chickens to feed and collect eggs from when I was a child I have always loved the subject when it comes to painting! I love watching them as they scratch around and talk to each other!
The backyard chicken coop has always created a world of interest and challenges for any artist.
STEP ONE
Having decided on the setting I want the next step is to decide on the medium I’m going to use and this time it’s watercolour and pencil!
I am using 600g H/P smooth watercolour paper.
I wanted a soft and not too colourful background and a nice colourful variety of chooks. I have lightly airbrushed the background with a Cadmium red and Rose madder mix. The sketch up begins using an H pencil, this lighter toned pencil makes any necessary adjustments much easier.
STEP TWO
Having all of my key elements in place I begin the shading process. I have also added a little hint of colour in the leaves using Graphitint pencil sage.
STEP THREE
I have started making my way around the yard, adding colour here and there. It is at this point that I decided to work on the chooks so as to get a better understanding of the overall tonal balance I needed. Turning to my watercolours I selected Napthol red for the combs. For the white chooks I firstly wet the body and then drop in a mix of Violet, Burnt umber and a little Ultramarine to create the shading and give the birds their “roundness”! For the black feathers I have used Burnt umber, Ultramarine plus a small amount of Napthol red. Next it was on to the large rooster and the brown chooks! Raw Sienna, Yellow ochre and white was used for the bodies of the chooks and neck of the rooster and for the tail and body of the rooster Viridian with a small amount of Ultramarine.
STEP FOUR
I grew a pink plum blossom tree by the chicken coop using one of my favourite colours Opera, plus some white. I also added some colour in the ground using Graphitint pencils Cocoa, Cool brown and Chestnut. Some grass and a few daisies added a little more interest to the ground.
STEP FIVE
I had to tone down the wall of the house, as it was too dark in colour and taking over from the main event, which was taking place in the yard. I then cross-hatched my way across the yard with my Graphitint pencils and added more colour to the tree trunks and leaves
FINAL STEP
The washing on the line was added to bring the whole painting together and with it swinging in the breeze I think it adds to the atmosphere! A balmy spring morning when you wake to the sounds of the rooster crowing and take a stroll around the back yard collecting the eggs and scattering feed for the hungry chooks!
ARTIST’S HINTS AND TIPS
• If you want a more intense colour from your Graphitint pencils then wet an area of your paper first then add the colour. Be careful not too use too much pressure on your pencil to avoid tearing the paper!
• Also be sure of the area you want to be more colourful as once you have applied the colour it will be almost impossible to erase.
• Knowing when to call a painting finished has always been a challenge for any artist, just remember to leave something to the viewers imagination!
