I chose some more familiar birds to try some more webcam stills in gouache. These paintings are both taken from some Polish livestream images. The webcam is set in a forest nook which has both familiar European birds as well as cute wild boars piglets and roe deer.
Eurasian Jays visit the feeder in some number, and I found some footage of a Redwing too. I’m still not sure how I feel about trying to paint ‘realistically’…I don’t feel it comes easily to me and I get frustrated quite quickly, but I’m not sure if that’s just a practise thing, or whether I prefer a less structured approach. I’m pleased I’m getting used to tackling more complicated paintings though, and more importantly, persevering even when it doesn’t look like it’s ever going to come together.
I think I could do more but the pursuit of perfection always worries me as I don’t know when to stop. I’m wondering how my usual style of illustration would work, so without shading or trying to accurately represent the birds, but set in a background. I will try that next time.
Here are my progress pictures.
