Congratulations! You have just completed this class. Now, I would like to challenge you to paint this hummingbird on your own.

Please see the reference image below.

If you need a little help…

The branch can be painted the exact same way as we did it in this class - starting with blue undertones, then adding burnt sienna or even raw sienna if you want to make it lighter.

The hummingbird has beautiful blue-green feathers. You can use the same colors we used in this class, as well. I purposely chose this bird with similar colors, so you can focus more on the composition, then contrast - light and shadows, instead of ‘matching colors.

Please visualize the process of painting it first, before you begin wetting the bird.

I do suggest painting it ‘wet on wet, as we did in this class.

‘Wet on wet can be done faster, without overworking any details. You can keep things light and with one layer only.

Try focusing more on the eye and a beak. There’s a nice strong highlight in the eye, then the top part of a beak.

Try to preserve the light as much as you can. The tail can be painted ‘loose and you can first wet the background - including the tail, then add colors ‘wet on wet - with ‘heavy cream like ratio, or even ‘heavier, like ‘cream top like ratio. So the paint doesn’t spread much.

If you do add the background, then paint the tail at the same time you are painting the background 'wet on wet - which means adding very light values of colors - quin.red, yellow ochre or raw sienna, some vandyke brown for the tail, then adding colors for the background around it. 

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Happy painting!

Fondly,

Your teacher.