I was recently asked to paint a robin for somebody’s Dad for Xmas and coupled with the fact that I am also hosting 3 watercolour workshops in the next 2 weeks featuring how to paint a robin I thought I would be clever and combine the two.
So here he or she is – a simple robin with the well-loved scarlet breast and a cute inquisitive face.
I used a sheet of 8×10 inch Arches Hot pressed 90lb 100% cotton rag paper.
My paints are Winsor & Newton Cadmium Red, Winsor Orange, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Raw Umber, French Ultramarine Blue, Winsor Viloet and a dab of any opaque watercolour white.
Brushes are a No 3 and 6 round and a quarter inch flattie.
Please feel free to have a go for educational purposes but do not re-sell as you will be breaching my copyright. However – transfer these stages to a robin image of your own and you are free to sell.
I’d love to see what you turn out – Alison
Thank you for this wonderful tutorial, i learned lots of techniques from your instructions. Quite proud of my finished Robin.
That’s lovely to hear Kat – glad it gave you something. Just for info – I also have a brand spanking new website of my own with allsorts for artists like you – want to see it? Here’s the link – stay safe:0 https://www.thepotteringartist.co.uk/
You are generous to share even the progression of images, and then you also took the time to explain exactly how to (try to) perform each step.
Thank you for your inspiration and kindness.
I love this! Fingers crossed, this will be my first attempt at a bird! Thanks for the tutorial!
Glad you like it Breanne!!
Thanks so much!
Thanks for that!
keep on going!
I have been really inspired by your work, I love watercolour and have chosen your painting of Bertie the Budgie for a school assignment (critical analysis on the artwork and artist). I was tossing up between this one and the budgie one – so hard to choose! I also have to do a reproduction of the work, hope that doesn’t breach copyright (it won’t be made public)?
Hi Morgan – that is fine and I am glad it helps you in your art. If you used the same colourings on a different shaped budgie then you could show it publicly and sell it as it would be sufficiently different. But if this is just for school – copy away – I’d love to see ho it turns out – Alison
thanks kathleen – was looking for a dig-out for a xmas card – i will send you a jpg in a minute
sorry – i meant alison
That’s OK – I was a bit confused then – but you saved me from having to scratch my head for too long :))
Beautiful and inspiring. Thank you for sharing
My pleasure – I hope you will try some of my other demos on this blog too – A
Nice painting! I love European robins. They are more delicate than the robins we have here in North America.
Thanks Kathleen – I do prefer the European ones but then I suppose I am prejudiced!