My Owl Painting

Posted on March 25, 2015 | 16 Comments

I thought you might enjoy seeing the painting I did of an owl today in stages:

Step 1 – Paint the background a brown color and let dry. I’m using Arches Cold Press Aquarelle Art Board as my surface.

Step 2 – Draw my image in pencil. Using a wet brush, I rewetted areas and then lifted the paint with a dry brush and a small damp sponge.

As you can see, this adds shading even before I add paint!

Step 3 – Start painting with layers of watercolor and white gouache.

It is starting to look like an owl! I took a break from sitting and went for a walk outside. 🙂

Step 4 – Add finishing details with a fine brush.

Signed my name and I’m done!

Would love to hear what you think! 🙂

This entry was posted in Owls and tagged birds, drawing, gouache, owls, painting, watercolor. Bookmark the permalink.

16 responses to “My Owl Painting”

Susan | March 25, 2015 at 4:12 am | Reply

Great job!

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- Jill Kuhn | March 25, 2015 at 4:44 am | Reply
  
  Thank you Susan! I appreciate you stopping by! 😊
  
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Isabella | March 25, 2015 at 5:01 am | Reply

This is beautiful artwork!! 🙂
Keep up the great work!
XOXO,
Isabella

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- Jill Kuhn | March 25, 2015 at 5:54 am | Reply
  
  Thank you kindly Isabella! 😊
  
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cubbyholes | March 25, 2015 at 8:31 am | Reply

I love this owl. And what an interesting way of doing the background. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a watercolor done this way. I love the result though. great job

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- Jill Kuhn | March 25, 2015 at 4:07 pm | Reply
  
  Thank you Cubbyholes! This is the first time I’ve done a watercolor like this method. It took me a couple of tries! 😊
  
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  - cubbyholes | March 25, 2015 at 11:06 pm |
    
    Keep at it. What beautiful permutations it could produce!
    
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createarteveryday | March 25, 2015 at 9:27 am | Reply

Holy hell, Jill, this is gorgeous!! Wow! I’m very impressed. And thanks for explaining your process! Love his cute little beak. :))) Terrific eyes too, but I like the whole thing. Awesome work!

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- Jill Kuhn | March 25, 2015 at 4:12 pm | Reply
  
  Hahaha Laura! Thanks for making me laugh! I am a bit amazed myself how well this one turned out. I was really struggling with the beak so I took a break. When I came back to it, I was able to figure it out. 😊
  Oh, BTW, I was listening to Norah Jones while painting it! 😊😊😊
  
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  - createarteveryday | March 25, 2015 at 4:56 pm |
    
    WOOT! 😀 Or should I say hoot? lol! Music can be magical. I think you were channeling this owl! 😀
    
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Peggy Doyle | March 25, 2015 at 7:52 pm | Reply

Beautiful Jill!! Thanks for sharing your technique!

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- Jill Kuhn | March 26, 2015 at 12:04 am | Reply
  
  Thanks Peggy! I appreciate you stopping by my blog! 😊
  
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hguillermet | April 9, 2015 at 7:15 am | Reply

Magnifique peinture ! J’adore !

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- Jill Kuhn | April 9, 2015 at 5:19 pm | Reply
  
  Thank you Helene! This was a class from Val Webb! So glad you introduced me to her!
  
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cher thoming | April 9, 2015 at 1:17 pm | Reply

That’s a really beautiful owl. Love the eyes, so intense. And the way you did it reminds me a little of what we learned from Carla’s latest painting on the board with gesso, but I’m so new at all this. I don’t even know what gouache is! ha ha Thanks for sharing your art.

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- Jill Kuhn | April 9, 2015 at 5:14 pm | Reply
  
  Hi Cher! Thanks for you nice compliment! Gouache is like watercolor but it is more opaque whereas watercolor is more transparent. 😊
  
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