Baby Birds
by Betsi Lebold
FIRST FIRE:
 I find that painting the branches and then positioning the little birds on the branches seems to make placement easier. Paint the branches in finishing brown, leaving a high light on the branches. Next, fluff in the little birds with a square shader in yellow brown, Albert’s yellow and Copenhagen gray on the tail feathers.
Mark out the feathers with a wipe-out tool. Paint in the eyes with finishing brown. Wipe out the highlight in the eyes. Wipe out the bird’s feet on the branch.
Paint the shadow daisies in Copenhagen gray with yellow centers. Stems are Copenhagen gray mixed with moss green on the brush.
Separate the birds with a shadow of finishing brown.
Fire at 017.
SECOND FIRE:

In this fire I add the nuances of color that a baby bird has.....gray, yellow, green and yellow brown, being sure to leave clear golden high lights on the breast of the upright bird and on the head of the bird that is bent over. I used a bit of black over the brown and wiped a sharp high light out of the eyes.
Strengthen the bird's bill with a strong yellow and yellow brown, wiping out the separation at the top and bottom of the bill. Develop the branch by adding irregularities (buds and high lights) filling in with finishing brown and a little antique green. Strengthen the shadow between the birds with brown.
Strengthen the centers of the daisies with yellow brown and a touch of antique green, adding a touch of yellow to a few of the daisy petals that are reflecting the sunlight.
Shade a little gray under the birds and branches. Add sunlight to your design by washing yellow from the top left of the design over to and under the gray shading beneath the branches and birds.
THIRD FIRE:

Strengthen the colors on the feathers of the birds and branches. Check to see if the daisy centers are sharp, sign you name and you're finished.

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