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Hi everyone,

Here is Part 1 of the Hyacinth Macaw watercolour painting. In this video I paint the first wash  all over the Macaw. I paint in the eye, the beak and some feathers around the beak. 

Here is Part 2 of the Hyacinth Macaw tutorial: https://www.patreon.com/posts/30530674

The files you need are attached below. 

Unfortunately I can't supply you with the reference photo for this painting because I purchased it from Wildlife Reference Photos website. Under their Terms of Service I can purchase and use their photo for this tutorial but I can't re-distribute the photo. So, if you'd like to purchase it yourself, here is the link: https://wildlifereferencephotos.com/media.details.php?mediaID=51850

Have fun!

Files

Hyacinth Macaw for Patreon Part 1

This is Part 1 of the Hyacinth Macaw tutorial for Patreon.

Comments

Mercè

Thanks Louise, fantastic tutorial

Mercè

Hello Louis, I really enjoyed painting the macaw but the finish on the feathers resists me. I will have to practice more.😊

Louise De Masi

I'm glad you enjoyed it Merce. It takes a lot of practice. Keep going! 🥰

BonnieB

Loved this tutorial and really learned alot from it. Although in general i am happy with the outcome, my feather details don’t look nearly as nice as yours. One question i have is regarding the wing shadows. I’m wondering why you start with phthalo blue and then layer paynes gray followed by the french ultramarine blue? I have just used something like indigo in the past to darken a shadow area and it does come out looking a bit dull.

Louise De Masi

Thanks so much Bonnie. I’m glad you enjoyed the tutorial and got a lot out of it! As for the shadow colours on the wing, I’ll be honest… a lot of what I do comes down to instinct, experimenting, and just seeing what feels right in the moment. Indigo can sometimes look a bit dull on its own, so layering like this helps me keep the shadows rich and glowing rather than murky. So I guess it’s part gut feeling, part colour play, and probably a bit of artistic licence too!

Palmira Farkash

Lovely! Would you mind sharing the dimensions of the bird itself? I saw the dimensions of the paper you used, but the Macaw doesn't extend to the whole paper and it's hard to estimate it's size through the screen. I recently discovered that for some reason painting bigger is easier for me than painting smaller (which was quite surprising to me let me tell ya...), and I'd like to try to match the dimensions you used for this one as I'm still not experienced at estimating sizing to complement a specific subject with regards to how detailed or not I want it to be. How do you determine what size you want for a subject's painting?

Faye Lukezich

This is so beautiful. I love how you manage to mix looser parts with just the right amount of detailed parts in such a balanced, lovely, watercolorey way. (hard to describe lol) I love your style Louise!

Louise De Masi

Thank you Palmira! At the base of my Macaw he measures 28.5cm (so that's right at the bottom of the painting from wing to wing.) He's 22cm tall at his highest point. I've pushed him right to the left edge of the paper so he's got all that negative space on the right side of him. I usually look at my paper when I'm deciding what size to paint. I try not to waste too much paper because it's so expensive as you know. The full sheets I will either cut in half or quarters and then I choose a subject that will fit on it ok without making it too small. I'm like you. I find it easier to paint larger. This Macaw painting I decided I wanted it to be landscape and I wanted some negative space on his right so I cut a full sheet to suit. I know have a larger off cut piece of paper from the full sheet that I can either make a large painting on or two smaller ones. I also like to try to fit them on my scanner so I can make prints of them and provide my students with a quality scan of my final painting. I have an A3 size scanner so I need to make my paper fit into that ok. So there's a few different factors that determine how I choose the size.

Louise De Masi

That's a perfect description of what I try to do. I love detail but I also love the watery qualities of watercolor so I try to incorporate both. Thank you Faye!

Rita Navroth

Hi Louise, this Macaw is wonderful so excited to paint it. I appreciate the link to where to purchase the photo, they offer so many lovely photos to choose from. I also wanted to mention that in the first email on Part I, there was no link to the tutorial, of course no biggie since we can access through Patron, but I have gotten used to them. Part II did have a link, although they are coming across a bit differently than usual, just FYI. Thank you for all the wonderful tutorials, You Rock!

Lorraine

Louise, why do you use washi tape? What is so special about it rather than masking tape?

Louise De Masi

Hi Rita, that's weird. I think that must be a problem on Patreon's end because I did everything like I normally do. I hope it doesn't keep happening. I'll get in touch with them if it does. Thanks for letting me know.

Louise De Masi

Hi Lorraine. Washi tape is low tack, it doesn't stick as hard as normal masking tape. I find normal masking tape tends to rip the paper, especially if you leave it on there for a while. I like using Lukas masking tape because it's low tack as well but I've run out of it.

Palmira Farkash

Thanks for the detailed answer! So odd that painting bigger is easier for us... one would assume it would be the other way around 😊

Daniel Corrêa de Azevedo

Thanks for this amazing tutorial! I am just getting started and I am already loving this painting!

Louise De Masi

That's great Daniel. My pleasure! Good luck with it and message me if you have any questions. Thank you 😊.

Amanda Novaes

I am trying this lovely and brazilian macaw..... i am in love already. How i can send you a photo?

Louise De Masi

Wonderful Amanda. You can email me a photo if you like ldemasi@iprimus.com.au

Shelly Solle

Hi Louise, When you say Mop Series 418, what brand are you referring to?

Cathy Paschane

Great video. I tried to find brown ochre but was unsuccessful. Where do you buy it and what color would suggest as a substitute?

Louise De Masi

I used Winsor & Newton Brown Ochre - buy it online or at an art supplies store. I only use a small amount of it in this painting. You could use any warm brown or gold colour that you have.

Jan May

I found a tip about removing regular masking tape and you have probably seen it before. If you hold a hairdryer low on the paper directed at the tape and remove it gently... it doesn't tear the paper.

Louise De Masi

Thank you Jan. That's a great tip. I didn't know that. It must soften the adhesive.

Kathleen Gill

Hi Louise, where do you buy your Arches watercolour boards please.

Louise De Masi

Hi Kathleen, Unfortunately Arches don't make it anymore or so I've been told by various fine art supplies stores here in Australia. I have a stash here at home that I'm working my way through but once it's gone I'll be having to stretch all my paper again.

Kyle Vodden

I love this painting. I have practiced and practiced the feathers, but they just don’t look like yours.

Elena Silveira

Oh thank you al least I ll paint my Coco.

Nina Kathrin

I just found you on YouTube yesterday and joined your Patreon just now and what Faye describes is exactly one of the many reasons that drew me to join. Thank you for sharing this with us!

Nina Kathrin

Thanks for the tip Jan, I'll try this, too!

Jocelyne Kent

Hi Louise, I’m looking forward to paint this gorgeous macaw. Could you please tell me the brand of washi tape you use to make a white border for your paintings? Thank you.

Robyn Chambers

Hi Louise, would you have this line drawing in the enlarged version please so I can stick together and draw onto A3 instead of A4.

Louise De Masi

Hi Robyn, the enlarged line drawings are there now. Thanks.