Page 91 - DPM3_FallandWinter_2022

BASECOAT
LET’S PAINT
STEP 1
Basecoating
Using a no. 3 round brush, apply the following solid basecoats of paint: Body of bird – Antique Gold; Beak of bird – Medium Gray; Legs of bird – Fawn; Tree branch – Cobblestone.
STEP 2
Tree Branch
As the tree branch is not the focus of the painting, do not pay too much attention to detail here. Using a no. 1 round or liner, apply a rough, broken shadow line to the bottom of the branch using Traditional Burnt Umber. Avoid “outlining” the entire branch as real branches are rough and inconsistent. You may add other touches of this color along the bottom half of the branch to create texture.
Using a no. 1 round or liner, apply Mississippi Mud to the middle of the branch to create additional roughness. Make sure to leave your Cobblestone basecoat visible in some places to serve as the highlight. As with the shadow, add some variability to the width and shape of your highlight and avoid the look of an outline.
Touch a few spots of Avocado to the top side of your branch, then work Aloe into the center of your patches for additional texture and to create the look of moss or lichens. You may even touch in some Cool White for contrast.
STEP 3
Bird's Legs
This bird’s legs are very, very thin. Be careful to work within the confines of your basecoat. You can always thin them out again with your background color, but this isn’t ideal.
To make the legs appear round, apply a thin line of Mississippi Mud to the outside edges of the leg. Touch some Terra Coral along the tops of both legs, and then some Crushed Coral linearly to add subtle banding. You may choose to add a wash of Traditional Burnt Umber to knock down the warmth of the pinks and define the claws. Finally, restate your banding with Fawn.
TREE BRANCH
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