plate no. 5751

Concert of Birds

oilBaroqueanimal paintingbirdstreeforestwateranimalsfoliage

experienced study

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in rendering complex compositions with many small details, as well as color mixing for naturalistic tones and textures. It also provides practice in depicting various bird species and their unique characteristics.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 20 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the overall composition, focusing on the placement of the tree and major groups of birds.
step 02
Establish the background with thin washes of color, creating the atmosphere of the forest and water.
step 03
Block in the main shapes of the tree trunk and branches, paying attention to their structure and form.
step 04
Begin adding details to the tree, such as bark texture and smaller branches.
step 05
Start painting the birds, working from the larger ones to the smaller ones, and focusing on their individual shapes and colors.
step 06
Gradually build up the details of the birds, including feathers, beaks, and eyes.
step 07
Add highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
step 08
Refine the overall composition and make any necessary adjustments.

color palette

primary · raw umber · yellow ochre · ultramarine blue · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · viridian green · burnt sienna

Achieve the various greens by mixing yellow ochre and ultramarine blue with small amounts of viridian green. Use raw umber and burnt sienna for the tree bark, adjusting the tones with white and blue. Mix red, yellow and white for bird plumage.

techniques

·glazing
·scumbling
·dry brushing
·layering
·color mixing

common pitfalls

→Getting lost in the details too early, before establishing the overall composition.
→Using colors straight from the tube without mixing them to create naturalistic tones.
→Failing to create a sense of depth and atmosphere in the background.
→Making the birds look flat and lifeless by not paying attention to highlights and shadows.

materials

surface · stretched canvas

required

·stretched canvas (18x24 inches)
·oil paints (raw umber, yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, titanium white, cadmium red, viridian green, burnt sienna)
·linseed oil
·turpentine or odorless mineral spirits
·assorted round and flat brushes (sizes 0-6)
·palette
·palette knife
·rags or paper towels