How to Paint Bird Feathers
There are many beautiful species of birds and their feathers are extremely detailed up close. Depending on the bird, it could be simple or extremely challenging to recreate such beauty. If you are patient and have an eye for detail, painting bird feathers can be an enjoyable project.
Supplies
- Canvas
- Paint
- Detailed pictures or samples of the feathers you wish to paint
- Paint brush
- Cup of water
- Rags
- Pencil
Directions
- Decide where to set up your work space and lay out all supplies. Use a protective cover, if needed. Set your canvas in the spot that has the best light for working.
- Set up your samples or pictures. Be sure you have adequate lighting on them. If you plan to draw the feathers by pencil first, finish that now, before you start painting.
- Mix your paints. Only mix what you plan to use right away. Wait to mix accent and detail colors until you are ready for them, to avid drying out.
- Apply your base colors and allow them to dry. Once dry, use a fine brush to apply the details of each feather. Use a dry brush to add texture, if needed.
You made need to try out a number of techniques on plain paper, before applying them to your painting. Practice until you achieve the look you prefer and can do it several times in a row. Experiment with your color options so that your feathers look more natural and not so uniform in shape and color.