Acrylic Painting Techniques for Bird Feathers

Blend a variety of acrylic paint colors together for a realistic look.

Painting wildlife images is a skill that takes practice. The colors of nature are vibrant and the variety of colors that need to be combined can be difficult to work with, based on the fact that they have to be mixed and blended together in a specific way. If you are working with acrylic paints, a particular technique can be used for intricate detail work, such as bird feathers.

Create a Base

Use tan paint on the back of the bird and on the wing feathers. Use a light gray paint for the head and then a warmer gray paint for the rest of the body of the bird. Create an opaque base by applying several thin coats of paint. Add details to the head with a pencil to show that area of the bird better.

Emphasize Shadows

Paint shadows around the wing feathers thicker than the outline of the feathers to indicate the way that they curve around and down the body.

Create Light

Paint the shadowed areas darker than than the rest of the feathers and apply lighter paint to accent areas to make the shadows really stand out. Paint darker markings on the feathers to further emphasize shadows and use lighter paint on the feathers to indicate light striking the form of the bird. Darker markings such as streaks and dots will make the feathers look more realistic. Light-colored tips at the ends of the feathers and light-colored spots and streaks will make the feathers look as though a light is shining directly on them. Light orange paint tones and yellow paint tones will give the illusion of sunlight.

Create Sheen for Realism

Use colors such as burnt sienna to build up the colors in the shoulder area of the wing. Focus on creating the illusion that the wing of the bird curves from the top to the side of the bird. Use lighter colors on top and darker colors on the bottom. Use a thin wash of white paint to create a subtle sheen on the top of the wing. This will create the illusion of light reflecting off of these feathers. Paint a few dark lines to show where the feathers break apart from one another.

References

• Artists Network: How to Paint Bird Feathers in Acrylic