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Feather Tutorial - Beginners (Patreon)

Published:
2021-06-01 22:04:46
Edited:
2021-08-13 00:31:43
Imported:
2026-10
Tags:

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Content

Hi everyone,

Here is a simple and quick painting for beginners. In this tutorial I work wet on dry for most of the painting. I use a limited palette of only two colours. You don't need to use the colours I've used here. Experiment with different colours that you have. 

I've included a few simple brush strokes at the start of the video that you can practice if you haven't had a lot of experience using a brush.

All the files you need to complete the painting are attached below my message here.

I hope you enjoy it.

Louise

💕

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Tutorial Index Links to bookmark:

Website index with linked images: http://www.louisedemasi.com/new-index

Clickable Word index: https://www.patreon.com/posts/34865676

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Copyright Information:

My tutorials are designed to help you on your creative journey. Any painting you create from a tutorial where I use my own reference photo is for personal use only. They can't be sold or entered into an art competition. I write on the Supplies Lists where the photos come from. Permission is not given to paint any of my earlier paintings that are not tutorials because some of them are licensed. Also, a few of my earlier paintings were painted from photographs where I sought the permission of the photographer. The photographer gave me permission to use it, not others.

If I do a tutorial where I use another photographer's photo (eg from Pixabay or Unsplash) that is available for anyone throughout the world to download (copyright free) and use I’m happy for you to sell the paintings you create from the tutorial.

If I do a tutorial and I use a photo that I have paid for and downloaded from the website Wildlife Reference Photos in order for you to sell the painting you create from the tutorial you need to purchase and download the photograph yourself. This is in accordance with the Terms and Services of the Wildlife Reference Photo website.

If you share a finished painting on social media I would really appreciate it if you could link back to my account (be it on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram) and mention that you painted it in one of my tutorials. @louisedemasi

Thank you!

Files

Feathers for Patreon

Louise De Masi©

Comments

Teresa C

Whew! just finished and boy was this humbling! I really struggled with the paint drying too quickly and had poor water blooms and blending of colours as a result. The paint seemed to go from very shiny to flat with no in-between stage like when you dropped water in. I think it's because its so dry in my house (cold northern winter) but I think I'm also struggling with the paint consistency.

Louise De Masi

I suggest painting them a few times and change the consistency of the paint and see if that helps you Teresa. Also make sure your brush is wet before you load it with paint.

Anne Watman

I’m just going through your “beginner” tutorials (which are actually challenging!). I tried this one before (last year?), and I remember how hard it was. This afternoon I decided to see what other colors I could use, so I tried indigo and (I think) quinachridone burnt sienna on some test paper (not bad). Then I tried painting a feather, just to see how my mix was and if I had the right brush. It also gave me a chance to practice laying down the paint and getting those “flicked” ends. So much less pressure than sitting right down with the actual painting. I also practiced looking at my paint to see when I thought it was ready for the water drops, and I did great! I know you know all of this, but I also wanted you to know how much I’m enjoying your tutorials and your teaching. I’m having fun, and I’m putting a lot less pressure on myself. I love practicing, especially when I start “getting it!” Thank you so much, Louise. I’ve tried a number of tutorials/courses, and I always ended up feeling frustrated. This is like taking a really good course in school.

Louise De Masi

Thanks so much Anne. I love your enthusiasm for it. It's wonderful to see.

Kim Oanh Dao

Hi Louise, this is my first painting on your patreon as a beginner. Sincerely, for me, it's quite challenging for my level, but I love your teaching very much and I'll take one step at a time. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to have you as a teacher.

Kim Oanh Dao

Louise, I have question. For example, I finished my painting and want to add some more blooms on the feathers. Do I have to paint another layer on the whole feather and then add the blooms? And if I want to add the blooms only in a small section? Thank you for your time.

Louise De Masi

Hi Kim, I think it would be a bit difficult to add more blooms on a dark subject like this. Try it on a scrap piece of paper but I find it's best to get them in on that first layer that you paint.

Louise De Masi

Thank you Kim. I have a goldfish tutorial that I'll be posting later this month for beginner painters. You might find it useful.

Greet

Thanks for this tutorial. It was very helpfull. I learned how wet I have to paint to be able to paint evenly without seeing brushstrokes after drying and to make the two colours flow together and make blooms. I need to use more water and need a bigger brush.

Peiying

Really enjoyed the class, love the blooms but timing is tricky. Not nearly as pretty as yours but I'm happy with the results, still need a lot of practice. Luckily, you offer us so many subjects to practice on! Thank you Louis!

Louise De Masi

That's great- I'm glad and you're right- it does take lots of practice. Thank you Peiying.

Cassandra Hill

Beautiful! And I loved hearing the birds chirping in the background!

Julia Tang

This has been super fun to play with Louise! I want to paint even more feathers. I’m enjoying the water blooms!

Louise De Masi

That's great. Thanks Julia. It's nice and quick and not too difficult. I love making the blooms too.

Vee

Thank you very much for this 'easy' tutorial, Louise. I say easy, but I actually mean easier 😄

Geraldine Lucas

Our temperatures are now triple digits paint dries so quickly I will have to skip the watercolor blooms.

Elaine

Love these Louise, thank you 💕

Vicki Falsgraf

I tried this one today. It's very hot here and I couldn't seem to keep the paper wet to complete one side of the feather. But when I added water, I got unwanted blooms. What should I do?

Louise De Masi

Hi Vicki, I worked on dry paper when I painted mine. Did you work on wet paper because it's so hot? If you've got a bloom you don't want lightly brush over the side with the bloom on it with some water. The water should redissolve the pigment. Gently work the brush back over the wash and once the pigment has been loosened try to spread it out evenly.

Vicki Falsgraf

Oh, so it's ok to wet the paper first if it's really hot and dry here?

Louise De Masi

Yes you can do that. You'll be working wet on wet instead of wet on dry the way I did when I painted mine. It's ok to do that. I thought that's what you meant in your message. I thought you must have wet the paper first and then put the paint on. Did you mean you couldn't keep the paint wet when you painted one side of the paper?

Vicki Falsgraf

Right. I painted on dry paper, like the tutorial, without realizing that I could have wet the paper first, then painted on it. As it was, the paper dried so quickly that I had both hard lines and blooms. I noticed at one point, part of the feather had dried and you just were able to re-wet it. And you didn't get blooms.

Louise De Masi

Ok I understand now. If it's really hot and the paint is drying on you too quickly and leaving hard paint lines yes- wet your paper before you put the paint on. That will help you.

Robyn Burgess

Just love your tutorials Louise. I completely zone out as I listen to you, which is a wonderful way to relax. I’m really surprised with how quickly I’m picking things up and I’ve already done some pretty good paintings; much to my surprise!

Louise De Masi

Thanks very much Robyn. I'm glad you are learning! 💕

Robyn Burgess

I’ve been rewatching this tutorial on the feathers and I’m going to paint the feathers again with a fresh mind. I hope to finish up with a closer version to what you have taught.

Wendy Kelcey

This is such a relaxing painting Louise and very effective! A lovely break for me from flowers, birds and animals. Thank you, I love it! 🪶

Delores Pumphrey

I cannot tell you how many times i have painted these feathers. Even the feather with no green in it, I am struggling. It seems what I apply either streaks or the color is slightly different than the color at the top of the feather. I have used three different brushes, i.e., daVinchi #35, Billy Showell brushes, and brushes recommended by Ann Mason which barrel/brush is fat but the tip is not like daVinci's fine tip and Showell's great point. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. I have used Arches cold press and hot press. I have used Saunders Waterford hot press paper all with the same results. I have migraines everyday throughout the day and, lols, this is not help. Grrrrrr!. I think I have painted these feathers 55 times. Have I not practiced a lot? I think one of my problems is that working wet on dry rushes me as it seems to dry too fast and I work as fast as I can and then I get sloppy in the consistency.

Louise De Masi

Hi Delores, can you email me a few photos of some of your feathers? ldemasi@iprimus.com.au

Delores Pumphrey

Okay will do. Some of my practices I threw away. I will send an image already done and I will send an image that I am going to do today, Sunday. I am also having a time in getting the two colors to merge and have soft edges. I do not know why I am having such problems with this. I have done the tutorial so many times, that I can do it without even having the tutorial up on my computer. However, I do like watching every move you make, most particularly when you add the green and get soft edges. I either do not have enough paint on the brush, or paint is too dry, or while I am painting an area, the paint on my pallet gets thick and I add a few drops of water to it.

Anne Watman

I just joined, and even though I've been trying to do watercolor for awhile now, I thought I'd start with something relatively simple. (We'll see!) But, I love your style of painting, so I'm excited to be here.

Sanctity Johnson

Thank you for including your very useful supplies list, and esp pigment number of the paints.

Sanctity Johnson

Also, thank you for including the measurements of the 3 feathers! That was helpful also!