Introduction to the Winter Chickadee Watercolor Tutorial

Hello, and welcome to my latest watercolor tutorial: Winter Chickadee! In this class, we’ll be painting a charming scene of a chickadee perched on a twig adorned with bright red berries, dusted with soft snowflakes. The backdrop of a snowy, serene winter day will set the stage for this cozy and inviting artwork.

This tutorial is perfect for capturing the magic of the winter season. With its warm, analogous color palette, the painting balances the cool tones of snow with a sense of comfort and coziness. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced watercolorist, this project is both approachable and rewarding.

Why Paint a Winter Chickadee?

Winter scenes have a unique ability to evoke feelings of peace and warmth despite their cold inspiration. The playful chickadee and snow-dusted berries offer an opportunity to explore intricate details and soft textures. You’ll learn how to create a harmonious composition that brings the serene beauty of winter to life.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

  1. Creating a Soft, Blurry Wet-on-Wet Background
    We’ll start by setting the tone with a dreamy wet-on-wet background. This technique blends colors seamlessly, establishing the perfect snowy atmosphere and drawing the viewer into the tranquil winter world.
  2. Using Masking Fluid for Key Details
    Discover how to use masking fluid to preserve important elements like snowflakes and the chickadee’s delicate features, ensuring you can paint with confidence and precision.
  3. Painting Twigs and Berries
    Learn to create simple yet realistic twigs and berries, accented with snowy highlights. These details add charm and texture to the scene, enhancing the overall composition.
  4. Building Layers for a Realistic Chickadee
    Step by step, we’ll build the chickadee using layered washes and tonal values. This approach allows you to achieve depth and detail in the bird’s feathers, bringing it to life on your paper.
  5. Adding Finishing Touches with White Gouache
    Finally, we’ll use white gouache to add highlights, snowy accents, and falling snowflakes, giving your painting a magical, festive feel.

Available now on my School, Skillshare, and Gumroad

The tutorial is available on multiple platforms, making it easy for you to choose where you’d like to learn. Each platform provides a seamless learning experience with high-quality video and downloadable resources.

For quick access to all the links, you can visit my Linktree HERE.

Happy painting!
Chris