14 Birds

Birds are found everywhere. Many species have adapted to city life, while others can be viewed and photographed in pet shops, zoos, parks and farms, and, of course, at bird feeders. When photographing birds, you need to be quick—birds seldom hold a pose and take off in an instant! One of the main considerations when painting birds is to get the feather pattern right. Otherwise, birds are fairly easy to draw, with their rounded, simple shapes. I enjoy painting birds because they are such beautiful creatures.

There is a great deal of variety in the world of birds, but all are enjoyable to paint, from the small brown sparrow to the showy bird of paradise. In this chapter, I’ve chosen birds that are both colorful and unusual.