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Monday 1 April 2013

Painting Colourful Birds for Fun!

Thanks to fellow blogger Peter Ward of The Watercolour Log, I found out about a wonderful facebook site which I think is run by Gerard Hendriks and Robin Berry (2 artists I admire a great deal) which sets a weekly challenge to paint a colourful bird.  As you may know I LOVE painting birds so jumped at the chance to have a bit of fun.   Last week the challenge was to paint a flamingo so I thought I'd try out the brusho I've had unopened in it's box for the last few months. At first I thought I'd made a right mess but think I managed to rescue it - it's certainly very colourful!


Brusho Flamingo
© Sharon Whitley the Rambling Artist

 Then I tried some flamingoes in watercolour - flamingoes are quirky looking birds and wanted to make a quirky painting so just painted the 3 heads sticking up

We Three Flamingoes
© Sharon Whitley the Rambling Artist


This week's challenge is to paint a red cowled cardinal - a bird I'd never heard of before - I've heard of cardinals but not a red cowled one.  Anyway I painted this from a photo I found on google as I liked the pose


Red Cowled Cardinal
© Sharon Whitley the Rambling Artist

These gorgeous birds are native to North Brazil and I never expected to actually see one of them in the flesh the very day after I painted this - in Chester Zoo. I was thrilled to bits as I do prefer to paint subjects that I've actually seen for myself - so of course I asked Gary to get me some photos and here's one of them - now I can paint another and know that it's from one I've actually seen yay!!!



To see other paintings of these gorgeous birds take a look at the facebook page HERE

13 comments:

  1. Great result with the Brusho Sharon, I have not yet had a good result (must admit I gave up quite quickly because of the mess). The bird challenge page is right up your alley as you do birds so well

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  2. Stunning work, Sharon. I love the effects you have got with the brusho and your flamingos are stunning!

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  3. That is a beautiful and strange bird. How interesting that you saw it right after you learned about it! The flamingo paintings are fun. They have such interesting structure to their heads and beaks. I love the colorful one at the top.

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  4. These bird paintings are all wonderful. I think the way you handled the brusho is a minor miracle. You should use it more.

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  5. I love your pink flamingos, they are funny and colorful. As I've already written on PMP continues!

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  6. The Brusho Flamingo is gorgeous, Sharon!! SO colorful! You have inspired me to "try" and paint a bird....Beautiful work!!!!

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  7. Super bird paintings Sharon, and it's good that you've now managed to see a real live Red Cowled Cardinal!
    btw. I really liked the paintings of the statues in your previous posts...[;o)

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  8. GReat set of paintings. You are creating a super collection of bird pictures.

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  9. i've no idea what a brusho is but i like the outcome! your 3 wstercolour flamingoes are lovely but the cardinal is my favourite-stunning bird and you totally did it justice.

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  10. Each piece is wonderful but I really like the cardinal! Wonderful photograph too!

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  11. Dear Sharon - your flamingoes are beautiful. As for the cardinal - this is so different from ours here in Ohio. Beautiful bird. Have a great week-end.

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  12. These are very beautiful, Sharon! I find your style evolving towards more fluidity and looseness.

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  13. Beautiful elegant lovely birds. Brava, Sharon!

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I love hearing from you, thank you so much for leaving a comment - I will always try to leave a reply and pop over to visit your blog if you have one - although sometimes I may be slower than others, have a wonderful day xx