"Rainbow Lorikeet" is an exercise I did in working in a less exact way, softening focus in a retreating background, and in using less translucent (more opaque) glazes to build color and texture and - FUN!
Having shared my life with many members of the parrot family (African Grey (Congo), African Grey (Timmy), conure, love birds, macaw, cockatoos, cockatiels, and parakeets - including a BIG darn parakeet, the Port Lincoln parakeet) across time, I have a deep and abiding respect for these incredibly smart - and challengingly dextrous - birds. My African Grey Timmy, "Lola" (whom I raised from a chick) used to spend the day on my shoulder, whispering sweet nothings into my ear, talking on the phone (uninvited), and running down my arm to "poop" on "her paper" then run back up again. Like I said - smart!
The Rainbow Lorikeet is native to Australia/New Zealand and on my trip "down under" I saw plenty of them. A truly beautiful bird!
After completing my sketch, I developed my palette and pre-mixed my background colors. I began painting by wetting the entire paper, really soaking it, then applying my paint and allowing it to "bleed," giving the deep background a "soft focus" look.
After that had thoroughly dried (with a little help from a hairdryer), I painted the blue flowers in the mid-background - somewhat more defined but still a little soft in the focus.
Turning to the plant matter in the foreground I first masked the "thorns" with drawing gum to block paint from reaching the order paper, then began laying down layers of color, using more opaque pigments rather than the very translucent glazes I might normally use. After an area had dried, I removed the masking and used a damp brush to pick out highlights and then added paint for shadows.
Painting the lorikeet itself was a bit of a challenge as I wanted to keep my paper a bit damp as I built rendered the brilliantly colored feathers, allowing for a soft but definite delineation for the feathers.
"Rainbow Lorikeet" is an approximately 9 x 12" image on 11 x 14" Arches cold pressed, fine grain, 140# watercolor paper.
Product code: Rainbow order Lorikeet