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Capturing Birds in Watercolor (Online Workshop) Fall 2026 w/ Michelle Detering
November 4 to November 18 (Wednesdays), 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/f7OGZhOFExA
Workshop Description
Capture the spirit and beauty of birds using the unique traits of watercolor in this 3 week online workshop. This workshop is designed for artists of all skill levels and explores the basics of watercolor and how to use the medium to capture the energy and essence of birds. Topics included in this workshop are birds in art history and contemporary art, drawing birds for watercolor, understanding the unique watercolor traits to use when painting birds and how to simplify design to capture emotion and essence.
Workshop Outline
Week 1 – Introduction to Watercolor and the Historical and Contemporary Approaches to Painting Birds in Watercolor
Presentation– Introduction and discussion of the watercolor medium. How artists have used watercolor to portray birds in art history and the different watercolor techniques used to create bird paintings.
Demonstration and Q&A– Setting up a palette, observing and drawing birds from references. and the different watercolor techniques including wet on wet, dry brush and layers.
Homework – Set up your signature bird palette and complete the six watercolor techniques for painting birds exercise. Practice drawing birds.
Week 2 – Using the Various Watercolor Techniques to Paint a Bird Portrait
Homework Critique – Feedback on the six watercolor techniques exercise.
Presentation - How to choose an image to work from, composition, capturing eyes and use of the various watercolor techniques to paint a bird portrait.
Demonstration and Q&A - Demonstration of a bird portrait using techniques learned such as wet on wet, dry brush and layers. How to add a background if desired.
Homework – Paint two different bird portraits using techniques shown.
Week 3 – Full Body Birds and Birds in Settings
Homework Critique - Feedback on bird portraits.
Presentation- Discussion of Zen painting techniques and painting birds in a setting with a full body.
Demonstration and Q&A– Watercolor demonstration of various birds sitting on simple branches using the skills learned. Ideas for continued practice.
Homework – Practice painting birds on branches or in natural settings using the skills learned from class.
Workshop Materials
A simplified (minimum) palette that would also work would be
Permanent White
Brilliant Yellow
Marigold Yellow or Cad Orange
Cad Red Medium
Alizarine Crimson
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
Spectrum Violet
Cobalt Blue
Olive Green
Brushes – I like Neptune synthetic watercolor brushes. A variety of brushes isgreat. Here are a few I would recommend
A round brush any size from #6-#8
A small round brush any side #2-#4
Rigger Brush is optional but a useful brush to have.
Plastic Plate or Palette
Watercolor paper – should be 100% cotton. 140lb or 300lb. I prefer 300lb because you do not need to tape it down and it does not buckle with water but 140lb is good as well. Fabriano or Arches recommended brands. Several full sheets and scraps or a watercolor block would work well.
Watercolor sketchbook not required but is optional
2 water containers (old yogurt containers or mason jars work great)
Spray Bottle
Sea Salt
Paper Towel
Paints – You should have a warm and cool yellow, blue and red at a minimum. I personally use Holbein, Windsor and Newton and Daniel Smith paint brands but any quality watercolor brand will work well.
Suggested Colors
Warm Red – Cadmium Red
Cool Red – Alizarin Crimson
Warm Yellow - New Gamboge
Cool Yellow – lemon yellow
Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue
Cool Blue – Prussian Blue
Additional colors that maybe helpful
Sepia
Payne’s Grey
Opera Rose (one of my favorite brilliant pinks)
Indigo
November 4 to November 18 (Wednesdays), 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, Eastern Time
**All sessions are live and will be recorded, students do not have to be present. All recordings will be available to students for 3 months after the final session, after 3 months the recording will be deleted.
Please check your email spam/junk folder for your Zoom invite. Our business hours are 10:00 AM through 5:00 PM. All course information and email correspondence will be sent during business hours. If students purchase a course, workshop, demo or recording outside business hours or during the weekend the course information or recording will be sent the following business day.
DEMO: https://youtu.be/f7OGZhOFExA
Workshop Description
Capture the spirit and beauty of birds using the unique traits of watercolor in this 3 week online workshop. This workshop is designed for artists of all skill levels and explores the basics of watercolor and how to use the medium to capture the energy and essence of birds. Topics included in this workshop are birds in art history and contemporary art, drawing birds for watercolor, understanding the unique watercolor traits to use when painting birds and how to simplify design to capture emotion and essence.
Workshop Outline
Week 1 – Introduction to Watercolor and the Historical and Contemporary Approaches to Painting Birds in Watercolor
Presentation– Introduction and discussion of the watercolor medium. How artists have used watercolor to portray birds in art history and the different watercolor techniques used to create bird paintings.
Demonstration and Q&A– Setting up a palette, observing and drawing birds from references. and the different watercolor techniques including wet on wet, dry brush and layers.
Homework – Set up your signature bird palette and complete the six watercolor techniques for painting birds exercise. Practice drawing birds.
Week 2 – Using the Various Watercolor Techniques to Paint a Bird Portrait
Homework Critique – Feedback on the six watercolor techniques exercise.
Presentation - How to choose an image to work from, composition, capturing eyes and use of the various watercolor techniques to paint a bird portrait.
Demonstration and Q&A - Demonstration of a bird portrait using techniques learned such as wet on wet, dry brush and layers. How to add a background if desired.
Homework – Paint two different bird portraits using techniques shown.
Week 3 – Full Body Birds and Birds in Settings
Homework Critique - Feedback on bird portraits.
Presentation- Discussion of Zen painting techniques and painting birds in a setting with a full body.
Demonstration and Q&A– Watercolor demonstration of various birds sitting on simple branches using the skills learned. Ideas for continued practice.
Homework – Practice painting birds on branches or in natural settings using the skills learned from class.
Workshop Materials
A simplified (minimum) palette that would also work would be
Permanent White
Brilliant Yellow
Marigold Yellow or Cad Orange
Cad Red Medium
Alizarine Crimson
Yellow Ochre
Burnt Sienna
Burnt Umber
Spectrum Violet
Cobalt Blue
Olive Green
Brushes – I like Neptune synthetic watercolor brushes. A variety of brushes isgreat. Here are a few I would recommend
A round brush any size from #6-#8
A small round brush any side #2-#4
Rigger Brush is optional but a useful brush to have.
Plastic Plate or Palette
Watercolor paper – should be 100% cotton. 140lb or 300lb. I prefer 300lb because you do not need to tape it down and it does not buckle with water but 140lb is good as well. Fabriano or Arches recommended brands. Several full sheets and scraps or a watercolor block would work well.
Watercolor sketchbook not required but is optional
2 water containers (old yogurt containers or mason jars work great)
Spray Bottle
Sea Salt
Paper Towel
Paints – You should have a warm and cool yellow, blue and red at a minimum. I personally use Holbein, Windsor and Newton and Daniel Smith paint brands but any quality watercolor brand will work well.
Suggested Colors
Warm Red – Cadmium Red
Cool Red – Alizarin Crimson
Warm Yellow - New Gamboge
Cool Yellow – lemon yellow
Warm Blue – Ultramarine Blue
Cool Blue – Prussian Blue
Additional colors that maybe helpful
Sepia
Payne’s Grey
Opera Rose (one of my favorite brilliant pinks)
Indigo