How to paint a charm of Finches

Transcription

1 How to paint a charm of Finches. What You Need: CMMD9012 Mont Marte Double Thick Canvas 91 x 121cm MPB0011 Mont Marte Taklon Angle # 12 BMHs 0009 Mont Marte Gallery Series Brush Set MCG0059 Mont Marte Palette Knife # 4 MAXX0019 Mont Marte Plastic brush Washer MCG0022 Mont Marte Tear-off Paper Palette MACR0004 Mont Marte Hobby Knife Set PMSA0010 Mont Marte Titanium White Acrylic PMSA0007 Mont Marte Lemon Yellow Acrylic PMSA0003 Mont Marte Vermillion Acrylic PMSA0025 Mont Marte Mid Green Acrylic PMSA0018 Mont Marte Paynes Grey Acrylic PMSA0015 Mont Marte Burnt Sienna Acrylic PMSA0028 Mont Marte Burnt Umber Acrylic macro0002 mont marte silver series foam roller 50 mm

2 Step 1 Creating the background - First we must create a soft mottled background to emulate an out of focus vegetation. Because the canvas is quite large and Acrylic paint dries quite quickly a soft blend can be difficult. To combat this we can slow the paint drying. To do this coat the entire canvas with Mont Marte Retarder Gel, use a 75 mm Taklon brush and clean it. Squeeze out some Yellow Ochre, Mid Green, Raw Umber and Titanium White all in the Mont Marte Silver Series Range. Use the 75 mm brush and charge it with a little bit of Ochre and create light patches all over the canvas. Once the paint on the brush is used up, dip it into the Green and lay in the patches next to the Ochre, blending them softly together. Next do the same with the Raw Umber. Once the Canvas is fully covered dip the brush into the White and lay it in here and there to suggest colour variation. Lastly soften any hard edges with the # 24 Chung King Hog Hair Brush. Now let this dry. To get Acrylic to blend with smooth transitions you need to work quickly. If the paint dries though just lay another soft blend over the problem area, this usually looks better. Step 2 Painting on the branches - Squeeze out some Titanium White onto the palette. Refer to the first printed out image on this PDF and with a # 12 angle try to follow the shape and position of them onto the canvas over the background with the white. Of course you can use you own composition. In fact I encourage it. Once you have finished with the White, clean the brush and let this coat dry. Next squeeze out some Raw Umber and some Paynes Grey. Lay the Paynes Grey into the bottom of each branch and into the mid region lay in the Raw Umber gently blending it into the Grey. Clean the brush and create a mix from 1 part water to 1 part Raw Umber. Brush the colour into the top part of the branch again blending it into the Raw Umber. The last part of this step is to take a Palette knife and while the coat is still a little Green scratch into it to create some texture.

3 Step 3 ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED Creating the stencils and applying the silhouettes - Take the second print out and use some Mont Marte PVA glue to adhere it to a sheet of cartridge paper. Let this dry. I m using a sheet from a Mont Marte Sketch book as it weighs 150 gsm and will be less inclined to get waterlogged than a sheet of standard copy paper that is 80 gsm in weight. Lay the sheet onto a cutting mat, I like to use the back of the pad, and with a hobby knife carefully cut out each bird. Remember the golden rule and always cut away from your person. Once the stencils are cut squeeze out some Titanium White onto the palette. Lay the canvas flat. To apply the silouette lay the stencil in the desired position, charge a Mont Marte sponge roller with some white paint and lay in a light coat over the stencil. Lay the birds in whereever you like it s up to you the artist. Step 4 Painting the Finches - If you refer to the Second image in this PDF you will notice a colour guide on how to paint the Finches. They are broken into 8 colours, 5 out of the tube and 3 mixed. The recipes for the mixed colours are on this print out too. The order of paint application is as follows : 1) Grey - Lies on the Head, back and down 3/4 of the belly. 2) Brown Grey - Lies on the Wings, top of the head. 3) Sienna - Lies on the wing coverts. 4) Cream/Buff - Over the middle of the belly. Detailing : Refer to the cutouts for precise colour application. 5) Vermilion - Beaks. 6) Orange Yellow - Cheek Patches. 7) Black - Base of beak, eye, eye stripe, zebra stripes, tail. Note : Thin the black with water to the viscosity of cream. 8) White - Shine line on the beak, highlight on the eye, dots on the wing coverts, bands on the tail. Although not in the steps due to their subtleties a dab of Vermilion has been applied for the eye and very light wash of Pink, mixed from 1 part water, 1part Vermilion and 2 Parts White has been laid over the legs. Note: The female of the species does not have the Orange cheek patch, Zebra stripes or the White spots on the wing coverts.

4 Zebra finch. poephila guttata. The zebra finch is Australia s smallest, most common and widespread of finches. Not only is it Australia s most prolific finch, it is also the favourite of bird fanciers and scientists alike. Although the zebra finch is primarily known as a desert bird that can live for long periods without water, their distribution is closely linked to surface water. Like all seed eating birds, zebra finches drink at least once a day and they do so hourly. This habit of flying hourly to water holes was exploited by thirsty Aboriginals and by early explorers of central Australia. How many lives have been saved by this lovely little bird? The bond between a pair of finches is thought to last for life. Usually each pair has it s own nesting bush. The colourful male suggests a suitable nest site and the finicky female accepts of rejects. Once the nest site has been agreed on they bow to each other, and then start building the nest. Another fact I found really interesting was that zebra finches mature faster than any other bird and leave the nest 3 weeks after fledgling stage. The Zebra finch is very common across Australia except in wet coastal forests. Tasmania and cape York peninsular....until next time Keep on creating

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