plate no. 0002

Concert Of Birds

oil, canvasBaroqueanimal paintingbirdstreefoliageskylandscape

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering realistic textures of feathers and bark, as well as understanding atmospheric perspective to create depth in the background.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the placement of the tree and major bird groupings.
step 02
Establish the background sky with thin washes of blues and grays, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the tree trunk and branches using a warm brown underpainting.
step 04
Begin layering colors on the tree, adding highlights and shadows to define its form and texture.
step 05
Paint the birds individually, paying close attention to their anatomy, plumage, and color variations.
step 06
Add details to the foliage, using small brushstrokes to create the texture of leaves.
step 07
Refine the background landscape, softening edges and adding subtle color variations.
step 08
Add final highlights and shadows to enhance the overall sense of realism and depth.

color palette

primary · burnt umber · raw sienna · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre · cadmium red · ivory black

Achieve the various browns and earth tones by mixing burnt umber, raw sienna, and yellow ochre. Use ultramarine blue and white for the sky, and add small amounts of red or black to adjust the hue.

techniques