Painting animals and birds in detail can be intensive work due to the amount of focus required to, first, 'see' the detail and, then, 'capture' it, in the required medium. A short break from such work can be a useful way to restore energy and bring focus back to the right level of detail.
Different art styles - detailed to loose watercolours.
This loose watercolour painting of a green parakeet was done a couple of years ago following some traditional, detailed wildlife art. Alternating art styles can provide a rest from looking at wildlife in such a focused way whilst continuing with art and developing new ideas.
Unfortunately, this parakeet didn't return the following year for further studies...
|Watercolour Bird Painting. Green parakeet in the garden.|
...but the other morning, when the sky was grey and all other colours were muted into a motionless blank canvas - a parakeet visited the garden and perched in an apple tree for about an hour! There are mixed feelings about parakeets, a naturalised UK bird since the 1960's - but its vibrant splash of golden-green was a welcome image in the garden today.
Winter sketching and watercolour painting.
Now is a good time, in the lead-up to Winter, when the trees are shedding their leaves, to sketch birds visiting the garden. Local birds and other wildlife are more clearly visible as they come in search for food.
A quick sketch with a pencil may not provide enough detail (such as for feathers or fur) but a sketchbook can build up over time to capture different aspects of the animal or bird for later use.
Similarly, less detailed bird paintings in loose watercolour washes don't take as long as the more traditional, detailed art - yet can still capture some of those aspects - such as movement and colour.
The colourful green parakeet in the apple tree certainly brightened the day!