A Flock of Birds Emerges Today

6 Watercolor Bird Studies
Done on 140 Pound Rough Watercolor Paper

I decided to do some more bird portraits today. As my sister has mentioned she'd like a finch painting,I took a book on how to draw birds and anything finch-like, I tried painting. Plus a few other species as well. Using a few how-to examples as a starting point, I painted the top bird first. I did not intend for the left side of the bird to lose its edges and form, but I kind of like how it flows as I look at it now. On a second sheet of paper, I did four separate bird portraits. (All done in watercolor). I've got some photos of birds I have taken from the past and will reference them for future paintings, but this was just how I wanted to begin. The book suggests specific paint colors for each part of the bird, but I experimented with some of my own colors as well. I did not add much water to my paint, and noted that the colors seemed brighter, more saturated.
I scanned the watercolor original (with the four birds on it) so I could see it on the computer. Unfortunately, my 8.5 x 11" scanner could not accommodate the bigger paper So I had to break each bird down so it was its own separate portrait study. Sometimes I kept a pair of them together. Each seems to have its own story to tell. That's fine with me for now, as I am not sure which of the birds appeals to me at this point. I suppose in the future I'll get a bigger scanner or use smaller paper. Today, though, this sufficed.
Anyway, it was nice to paint and paint and paint today. Some of the birds seem a tad bizarre, others have a more realistic feel to them. These birds are a diversified group.I see I have not done much of a background. I like the way the birds float on the white paper though. Maybe tomorrow I'll change my mind and add a background. What's nice about art, we're not locked in. So freeing. I'm always surprised at the unpredictability of my creative self. But I accept and embrace what surfaces.
I showed my husband the paintings and he said "Now that's the Bev I remember". Those words were a nice ending to a very creative day.