FOCUS STUDY - Manu painting

Manu Artist for painting.pdf

ARTIST MODELS

Artist Rachel Altschuler captures the unique personalities of birds in her series of expressive acrylic paintings. She uses a variety of

brushstrokes and textures to portray their whimsical and sometimes enigmatic characters.

Anya Brock [Australian]

She is a well-renowned Australian artist known for her paintings created with bright colors and bold strokes.

FOCUS STUDY: Acrylic painting

You will be select a bird portrait to study for your final painting

look through the artist models who have painted birds and look at the different ways the artists have represented a birds colours, shapes and textures. Look at how they have applied paint and look to find evidence of what you did on your Heihei.
In your visual diary - experiment with ways you are able to capture the colours, shape and feathers of various parts of your bird and continue to do this while you you are painting
We will be creating a background with stencils, so also at this time, experiment with stencil patterns and layering of colours

Materials Needed:

painting surface
Acrylic paints (various colors)
Gesso
Paintbrushes (various sizes)
Stencils
Carbon paper
Palette
Water container
Paint cloth

Step 1: Prepare Your Surface

Apply Gesso: Use a brush to apply a thin layer of gesso evenly over your canvas. Let it dry completely.
Color Wash: Apply a color wash over the gessoed surface [use a damp cloth] using acrylic paint diluted with water. This will serve as your background color. Let it dry thoroughly.

Step 2: Stenciling the Pattern

Choose Stencil and Paint Color: Select a stencil pattern and a slightly darker color than your background.
Apply Paint: Place the stencil on the canvas and use a dry brush or sponge to lightly dab the paint over the stencil. Be careful not to use too much paint to avoid bleeding under the stencil.
Overlap Sections: If you need to overlap the stencil for a continuous pattern, use a hairdryer to ensure the paint is dry before repositioning the stencil.

Step 3: Painting the Bird

Transfer Outlines: Use carbon paper to transfer the outlines and basic details of your bird onto the painted background. Add washes of basic colour to your bird.
Begin by painting the eye and surrounding details accurately.
Build Shadows and Values: Start painting the bird's body by adding dark shadows first, followed by mid-tone values, and then lighter tones. Work in blocks of colors to define different parts of the bird.
Add Feather Details: Use your artist model as a guide to add feather details. Use a brush with dark values to create lines and textures.
Highlighting: Use lighter values to add highlights to areas where light hits the bird.
Texture and Blends: Experiment with different paint applications (dry brushing, stippling, glazing) to create texture and blend colors smoothly. How has your artist model applied paint? experiment in your book birst uf unsure.
for difficult details you may like to use colour or white pencil!

Tips:

Less Paint, More Control: Use small amounts of paint on a dry brush or sponge for stenciling and detailing.
Work in Layers: Build your painting with layers of colors and values to create depth and realism.
Refer to References: Use reference images of birds for accurate color and texture inspiration. Use Artist model images.
Take Your Time: Painting details like eyes, beaks, and feathers requires patience and attention to detail.

By following these steps and tips, you'll be able to create a beautiful acrylic painting of a bird with a well-prepared background and intricate details. Remember to enjoy the process and let your creativity guide you!

tutorial videos below if you need more help!

Preparing the surface

Stencilling the pattern

Building up layers

You may like to cut the canvas into a circle when we have completed the piece so consider what your bird is sitting on and ensure that you paint that in as well

student work

ALTERNATIVE BACKGROUND

use your Manu name as the background

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