puffins

INSPIRATION

I’ve been watching a Netflix documentary series, Our Oceans. One part of the film included some discussion of puffins. They form long-term pair bonds. The film portrayed a male bird waiting for his lady to return from a trip. When they met again, they bumped their beaks together. (Watch on video. I learned from the video that puffins also fight with their beaks.)

I chose this reference photo. (I may not be able to paint for the last part of this month. I’m hoping this layout is simple enough so it doesn’t take too long.)

Here is more species info.

For painting inspiration, I watched these videos:

• Mr. Otter Art Studio – note her use of black and the way she mixes colors from a basic set.
• Think watercolour – note’s use of layering to add intensity (but he doesn’t overwork).
• Painted Wing – I was attracted by the combination of small brush detail (which I can’t possibly accomplish) and larger brush Impressionism.

CREATION – session log

1. started with background. With Amber ‘s (PCA) help, I mixed green and orange an after flooding the area with water, put it in the background area at the top of the painting. Then I stippled in two different shades of green in the bottom area. Looking at it, the top looks very solid and has some watercolor artifacts, so I probably will start over. I’m going to look at the background on the videos to see how they made them.
2. Mr. otter – black and green and maybe orange background totally undifferentiated.
3. Think watercolor – background: very light cobalt blue wash.
4. painted wing – no background.
5. After all that, I looked at my painting so far and decided to leave the background as it is. I started to paint the beaks, using light and bright oranges and brown. I left some parts white and right now the beaks don’t look formed – just areas of color. I plan to work on other parts of the painting and come back to this area later.
6. Roughed in the eyes and painted indigo on the body of the left bird.
7. Painted indigo on the right bird
8. I decided that the indigo – even though I used it at full strength – looked too blue. I painted black over most of it. The underpainting of blue does make the black more alive.
9. Repainted around the eyes. Amber painted eyes for me, but did not understand when I asked her to leave the catch lights white. Repainted the beaks. Added a little green between the faces.

INSIGHTS

• by painting every day for a week, I finished this painting by the 8^th day of the month. Painting everyday had advantages (I knew what to do next) and disadvantages (less time to consider.)
• What surprised me?
  • I realized that my paper is longer than most of the photos I use for a reference. I want to adjust by showing more in the painting than shows in the photo.
  • I love watching videos, but I don’t remember what they did when I paint.
• What have I learned?
  • Indigo under black makes things livelier.
  • Adding the catch light to eyes brings them alive.
  • It’s okay to ask for help making marks.
• What do I want to learn or try?
  • In the video, people always swish their brushes on the mixing tray, rather than coming straight from the paint pot. I’d like to try that, but it may be difficult for me.
  • I’d like to stay away from animals that are mostly black for a while.
  • I’d like to keep my backgrounds lighter and cleaner.
• Thoughts about the theme – every creative act begins in love. Wanting to respond to the world by making something beautiful is an act of gratitude and love. Throughout the process, I am learning to be kinder to myself. Offering the painting by showing it is a celebration, an offering in love.