Painting Birds in Watercolour

Book excerpt: This practical book explains how to capture the character of various species of bird, without getting caught up in the detail. It celebrates everything that watercolour can offer as a medium when painting these fascinating creatures. It is not a field guide but instead offers a path towards understanding the behaviour and structure of birds to be able to paint their character. Topics covered include: advice on materials and getting started with watercolour; personal observation and drawing from life; looking at the features of birds and how to capture their behaviour; examples from major bird groups, including domestic fowl, birds of prey and songbirds, and finally step-by-step demonstrations of watercolour techniques.