Macaw in Watercolour

Macaw

Step 1: Background

Colours: Azo Yellow Light / Cobalt Blue

• Wet the background with the clean water, keep a distance from the bird
• Drop Cobalt Blue and Yellow on the water
• Use a smaller brush to refine the edge when the paint is still wet
• Use a dry brush to absorb excess water near the edges

Step 2: Face and Neck

Colours: Azo Yellow Light / Cobalt Blue / Crimson Red

• Paint the face and beak with Cobalt Blue (lighter)
• Paint the neck with Yellow 
• Mix Yellow and Crimson Red for the orange colour and paint with a flat brush for the neck feathers.

Step 3: Blue Feathers

Colours: Cerulean Blue

• Paint the feathers with Cerulean Blue 

Step 4: Head and Blue Feathers

Colours: Azo Yellow Light / Cobalt Blue / Cerulean Blue 

• When the paint is still wet, drop some yellow colour on the front head and the edge near the face, the yellow will mix with blue and become green
• Paint the rest of the feathers with Cerulean and Cobalt blue

 

Step 5: Details

Colours:  Cobalt Blue /Indigo

• Use the flat brush to paint the feather lines with Cobalt Blue
• Draw the eye with Indigo

 

Step 6: Details

Colours:  Cobalt Blue /Indigo

• Continue to draw the details with Cobalt Blue mixed with Indigo
• Draw the marks on the face and the beck in Indigo
• Apple some Indigo in some darker shadow
• Lift the paint with a damp brush for the highlights