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Bluebird Watercolour Tutorial (Patreon)

Published:
2019-09-13 05:29:10
Edited:
2025-08-22 05:49:24
Imported:
2026-10
Tags:

Downloads

Content

Hi everyone,

Here is the Bluebird watercolour tutorial. All of the files you need are listed below for you to download. 

The reference photo I used for this painting was taken by Linda Anderson from Paint my Photo website. I messaged her and asked her if it would ok if I used it to make a tutorial for you and she said yes.

Enjoy the tutorial! I'm looking forward to seeing your beautiful Bluebird paintings.

I'm busy painting a hydrangea painting at the moment. I'll make a tutorial for it as long as it turns out ok. So hopefully that's coming up soon. 🤞🏻

Files

Bluebird for Patreon

This is the Bluebird watercolour tutorial for Patreon.

Comments

Chevalier Christine

j'ai aime les couleurs et je préfère dessiner plutôt que décalquer le modèles merci Louise

Sarah

Loved this thorough Bluebird tutorial. Thank you for sharing your skills and knowledge with us.

Diane Hoying

Thank you, Louise! Just finished the bluebird that I'm giving to my sister-in-law for Christmas! I will definitely credit you! I learned so much and enjoyed doing it!

Louise De Masi

You're very welcome Diane. I hope your sister in law treasures the painting. Thank you!

Wendy Kelcey

Hi Louise! I love your paintings and style. I’m back with you after a couple of years learning “loose”. I’ve painted many of your subjects and would like to try some new ones, as well as redo some previous ones. I have a question… would it be too much to add a background in part like you often do? I love that! I have the baby bird framed and every time I look at it, and look at the background , it makes me smile. What is your suggestion? Thank you so much Louise. I’m happy to be learning and painting with you again! Wendy

Louise De Masi

Welcome back Wendy. Thank you! If I was to paint a blackground on this bluebird I'd use the same colours that I uses on the bluebird itself and let them drift off into the background (on wet paper). Have a look at the start of the Leucadendron tutorial where I do that. This is an old tutorial- I think it's time for a new bluebird! 💙

Wendy Kelcey

Thank you! I’ll check it out!

Wendy Kelcey

Happy Sunday ( Monday). I painted the bluebird (without any background) but couldn’t remember where to post it. I’m wondering if you could give a suggestion about the muddiness on the coloured feathers, as to how to fix it. Or should I just leave it. I really enjoyed this Sunday afternoon of painting your Bluebird!

Louise De Masi

Hi Wendy, I'm glad you enjoyed it. You can post it in the Discord group or Facebook group. Send me a private message here if you're not sure how to join them and I'll reply with instructions.

Wendy Kelcey

Not sure about the Discord group. I might still have the FB group. I’ll check.

Wendy Kelcey

I don’t have the FB group either. I’ll watch for your response.

Louise De Masi

Hi Wendy, Dom here. I've sent you a private message with instructions for both.

Candace Ainslie

Louise …. I enjoyed this so much! I’ll post a pic of my bird when I think I’m finished ……🙄

Candace Ainslie

Hi Louise - if I want to share my bluebird for critique, which would you prefer? I do not have Discord, but can get it if that is best.

Louise De Masi

Hi Candace, I don't critique paintings because I don't have the time but I'm happy to help with any questions you may have. The Facebook group is helpful- I see the paintings uploaded there. The Discord group is also helpful if you need to ask questions about anything.

Pat Guay

Having very hard time with this bird. I will try again.🥲

Toni South

My daughter is visiting next week. I'm working on it to give her. I'm so excited!!

Natalie Jukes

Hi Louise. I just watched part of the video where you said if you dont have brown madder you can mix cadmium red into burnt sienna to get a similar colour. I only have windsor red, scaret lake, and light red. Which one do you think would be the best one to mix with? Thanks

Louise De Masi

Hi Natalie, Out of the reds you mentioned, I'd try mixing Scarlet Lake or Winsor Red with Light Red to get close. Light Red is already a bit earthy, so adding a touch of a bright red like Scarlet Lake should help warm it up and shift it toward that Madder Brown tone. You might need to play around with the ratio a bit.

Natalie Jukes

Thanks so much. I love your bird tutorials.

Bren

Thank you! Another extremely helpful tutorial! ❤️

Karen morovich

Hi Louise - I am unable to get the reference photo of the blue bird to download.

Louise De Masi

Hi Karen, I've just emailed you a copy of it. I'm not sure why you can't download it. I just checked it and it downloaded ok for me. Let me know if you don't get the email.

Jackie Hatcher

hello Louise- I am also unable to download the line drawing of the bluebird. Can you help?

Louise De Masi

That's weird Jackie. I just checked it and it downloaded for me ok. I'll email it to you.

Jackie Hatcher

problem solved. I was able to download and print from my desktop. My tablet was unable to. Thank you!

Louise De Masi

Ok great. I emailed you one too. So now you have two 😝.

Nicole Butzen

Hi Louise. The watercolour board from Arches that you are working on for this tutorial , is that the same as the Arches cold press 640gr?

Louise De Masi

Hi Nicole, The watercolour board is 1045gsm in weight. It's the next step up from the 640gsm. I use the 640gsm as well but sometimes it will get a few bows in it when I paint. I have been known to stretch 640gsm paper as well. The watercolour board is really stiff. It has a backing board on it and you can't stretch it. It's getting harder and harder to get though. I have quite a few watercolour boards here at home and I'm working my way through them. When I run out I'll have to start using the 640 and 300gsm paper. I know Daler Rowney make a watercolour board but I've never used it so I can't tell you what it's like. I plan to buy some and try it but I haven't got around to it yet.

Silvia Franco Galarza

Hi Louise, I have a problem painting the pens negatively. when I wet the paper to make the edge of the pen the paint of the first layer is diluted. I've tried many times and it always happens to me. I think I let it dry well between layers. My watercolors are Van Gogh, are they of poor quality? Thanks a lot. This is a machine translation.

Louise De Masi

Hi Silvia, I'm not familiar with Van Gogh watercolours so I don't know about their quality. If your first layer of paint is lifting off or moving when you paint the next layer it's because it's not dry enough. I use a hair dryer to dry the paint really well between layers.

Silvia Franco Galarza

Thank you very much Louse. I will keep trying. You're very kind.

Isatys09

My first bird and I learned a lot about the technique. Feathers are clearly not one of my natural skills :) and I plan to redo it in the future.

Annabelle Zamora

I love the way you paint the feathers using the negative technique, something new to me, I ´m sure going to try it, thanks!

Audrey Dugan

Thank you, I learned so much. Most of all patience, and layering. I paint watercolors with my oil painting technique, which makes them dull. Soft layering allows a play of light and pigment, this is so much better, fresher, brighter. Thank you

Louise De Masi

There's an Eastern Bluebird, a western bluebird and a mountain bluebird according to Wikipedia. The Eastern and Western look very similar to me.

Carol Bonnett Edmondson

I looked on Wikipedia images, and I agree, the Eastern Bluebird and the Western Bluebird look very similar. Thank you for your patience.

Tiphanie

Thank you for this lesson ! I've just finish mine and will offert my paint for the 70th birthday of my father ! You can see it on my instagram when it'ill done !

Susan Brun

I haven’t been able to find Brown Ochre here. Any suggestions on what I could mix to get a similar colour?

Louise De Masi

Hi Susan, Daniel Smith's Mnt. Amiata Ntr Sienna is the same pigment. You could also try Burnt Sienna if you don't have Brown Ochre. Mix a little yellow into it if you think it's too orange. Brown Ochre is an orangey brown colour.

Quantum Artistic

I thought I would pick one tutorial and buy the supplies just for it and I am trying to get the Winsor blue but there are three options - Green Shade, Red Shade, and Blue Shade. Which one did you use for this bird? Also, I cannot find a liner brush that is listed as being #00. Might this have a different name? I'm shopping on Jerry's Artarama primarily. Thanks!

Louise De Masi

Hi Quantum Artistic, I used Winsor Blue Red shade. Sorry I should have mentioned that. I've added it to the Supplies List - thank you for drawing my attention to that. You might find #00 listed as #2/0. Thanks!

Hilda Iturriaga

Hi Louise, I’m unable to download the blue bird supply please help Thanks…

Louise De Masi

Hi Hilda, I just checked it and it downloaded for me but I'm logged into Patreon through my web browser on my computer. If you are using the Patreon app on an iPad try logging into Patreon through your web browser instead. Use Safari or Google Chrome or Firefox- whatever you use to browse the internet. See if it works then. Sometimes the app causes problems.

Thia

Hi Louise, I found you on YouTube when searching for a tutorial on using loose backgrounds. I have never joined a Patreon account however I love your style so much that I decided to give it a go and I'm really happy I did. You are an incredible artist and teacher. I love that you include just enough description to make steps clear, your videos are super high quality, clear, and beautiful. Thank you for the many hours of work that you put into producing, sharing and supporting! Your website index is super helpful too. I find that most of my questions involve color substitutions. Wondering if you might post a list of common subs? I use mainly Daniel Smith and M. Graham. I see Windsor Blue red shade is one you often use. Is that PB15, can I use Daniel Smith Phthalo Blue? Thanks, Thia

Louise De Masi

Hi Thia, Thank you so much! I'm away on holidays at the moment. I'll message you when I get home later in the week. Thanks. ❤️

Marika Roth

Hello again, Louise. I'm back with color substitute question. Brown Madder? and Winsor Blue Shade? Thank you. Marika

Louise De Masi

Hi Marika, I think I mention in the tutorial that you could use Cobalt Blue instead of Winsor Blue. Failing that you could use French Ultramarine wherever I use Winsor Blue red shade. Brown madder you could replace with Burnt Sienna. If you want it a bit redder than Burnt Sienna you could mix a small amount of one of your reds into it. Thanks. Have fun.

Beverly Amato

I enjoyed day painting this bluebird. ThThank you for posting the detailed tutorial.