Demonstration: Sparrow

I couldn’t really tell what this little brown bird was until I got out my binoculars. I just knew it was some kind of sparrow. The yellow spots on his white eye-stripes told me he was a white-throated sparrow.

Materials

assorted watercolor pigments, graphite pencil, ink pen with black ink, smooth watercolor paper

STEP ONE: Create a Thumbnail

I drew a quick shape in pencil.

STEP TWO: Ink the Image

I drew on top of the pencil guidelines with basic ink outlines. When that was dry, I erased whatever pencil lines were still showing.

STEP THREE: Apply Washes

I added the first light watercolor washes, using a varied gray to keep it more interesting.

STEP FOUR: Apply Brighter Washes

The brown wash for the sparrow’s back was next, then the spot of bright, unsullied yellow next to its beak.

STEP FIVE: Add Final Details

Finally, when the wash was dry, I added the additional patterning in his feathers. I wrote his name in ink and called him done.