How to Paint a Robin in Watercolour

With Christmas nearly here I thought some viewers may be interested in painting a robin.

They are real characters aren’t they? They claim your back garden as their own turf and defend it feistily.

The robin song is a delight and today I found this lovely short clip of a robin singing away - it is worth a listen if only to get you in the mood to paint him.

Here's the visual step-by-step first for you to get a feel of how he progresses — Here’s the visual step-by-step first for you to get a feel of how he progresses

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