Monthly Challenge - April (Patreon)

Hi everyone,

I admired your fried eggs last month. They were wonderful to see. Some of you kept them beautifully simple, others pushed the colour and texture further. It was a simple subject but it was not easy to paint. Well done to everyone who took up the challenge.

Now for our April challenge 🪶

This month we’re painting a feather. I believe it’s a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo feather. It was given to me many years ago by a little boy I used to teach. His family had a large aviary and he would often bring little feather gifts to school for me.

Just like every monthly challenge…there is no tutorial.

This isn’t a step by step lesson. The idea is to slow down, observe carefully, and make your own decisions about how to approach the painting.

A few thoughts to guide you:

Mix your own black.

Try mixing a dark rather than using a tube black. A mix such as French Ultramarine with Transparent Sienna (Burnt Sienna) can create a much richer and more natural looking dark.

Look for colour inside the darks.

At first glance the feather may appear black, but when you look closely you’ll often see subtle shifts in temperature. Some areas may feel cooler, others slightly warmer. I see some warm browns lower down on the feather. Don’t go too dark too quickly - sneak up on the darks and create variation in the black areas.

The orange section isn’t one flat colour.

You may notice softer variations within it. Consider building the colour gradually rather than applying one heavy wash.

Follow the direction of the feather.

Feathers have a strong central shaft and the barbs radiate outward from it. You could let your brushstrokes follow that natural structure.

Don’t try to paint every tiny detail.

Feathers can easily become overworked. Suggest the texture rather than describing every strand (barb). I gently pulled apart some of the feather strands with my fingers so the feather spreads out a little and creates a more interesting shape.

This subject is actually a good study in observation, restraint, and texture. It’s a simple shape, but there’s quite a lot to notice once you begin looking closely.

You’ll find the reference photo and line drawing below.

As always, share your work wherever you feel comfortable, either here on Patreon, in the Facebook group, or on Discord. Finished paintings, experiments, and even half-finished studies are all welcome.

Enjoy the process.

Louise