Painting the Songs of Birds: Behind the Artwork

Claude Monet once said, “I would like to paint the colors of the rainbow and the beauty of the birds’ songs.” I feel fortunate to have songbirds fluttering outside my studio windows, filling the air with their melodies. On most days, I leave the window open so I can hear them while I paint. Their presence became my inspiration for this piece, which finally came together after several attempts.

In creating this artwork, I used three key watercolor techniques: wet-on-wet, glazing, and lifting. The wet-on-wet technique, where paint is applied to a wet surface, allows the colors to flow freely and blend, creating soft edges and delicate layers that mirror the lightness of the birds’ plumage. I used glazing to build up depth and enrich the colors by applying multiple thin layers of paint, giving the feathers more dimension. Lastly, I applied the lifting technique, where color is carefully removed from the paper to reveal lighter areas. This technique was especially effective in giving the leaves more variation in color, making them look more lifelike.

For the palette, I chose rich, natural tones that reflect the colors of the birds and their environment. The paints I used include Daniel Smith’s Lemon Yellow, Permanent Orange, Lunar Earth, Sepia, Transparent Brown Oxide, and French Ultramarine. I also worked with Winsor & Newton’s Raw Sienna, Ivory Black, and Cadmium Red to enhance the vibrancy and contrasts in the composition.

When it comes to reproducing this painting as a print, I’m thrilled to use Canon LUCIA PRO ink. It ensures vibrant colors, smooth tones, and sharp details, preserving the beauty of the original piece. Each print is made on Fabriano cold press watercolor paper, which has a wonderful texture that closely mimics the feel of the original painting.

I hope this artwork brings the joy and serenity of the songbirds into your space as it has into mine.