Okay, so today I decided to get artsy and try my hand at painting a scissor-tailed flycatcher, inspired by Bill Perry’s style. I’m no expert, but I love messing around with watercolors, and those birds are just gorgeous.
Getting Started
First, I gathered my supplies. I’ve got this basic watercolor set, nothing fancy, some brushes of different sizes, and a pad of watercolor paper. I also pulled up a bunch of reference photos of scissor-tailed flycatchers online. I wanted to get a good sense of their shape and colors.
The Sketch
Next, I lightly sketched the outline of the bird on my paper. I’m terrible at drawing, so this took a few tries. I kept erasing and redrawing until I got something that vaguely resembled a bird. It wasn’t perfect, but I figured the paint would cover up most of my mistakes.
Laying Down the Colors
This is where the fun began. I started with the bird’s body, mixing a pale gray for the back and a soft white for the belly. I added a touch of pink to the underparts, just like in the photos. The wings were a bit trickier – I layered different shades of gray and black to try and capture that feathery texture.
- Mixing the gray: I used a lot of water to get that pale wash.
- Adding the pink: Just a tiny dab of red mixed with white.
- Layering the wings: Light gray first, then darker shades for the details.
The Tail (The Hard Part!)
The scissor-tailed flycatcher’s tail is its most striking feature, so I knew I had to get it right. I took my time, carefully painting the long, elegant feathers. I used a thin brush and tried to make the strokes as smooth as possible. I messed up a few times and had to dab the paint away with a tissue, but eventually, I got something I was reasonably happy with.
Finishing Touches
Once the main colors were down, I added some details. I used a fine-tipped brush to paint the bird’s eye and beak. I also added some subtle shadows to give the painting a bit more depth. I’m not great at shadows, so I just kind of winged it (pun intended!).
The Result
It’s not a masterpiece, but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out! It definitely captures the spirit of the scissor-tailed flycatcher, and it was a lot of fun to paint. I might even frame it and hang it up in my living room. Or maybe not. It is that looked.
