Bird illustration: Painting a Spotted flycatcher

This step by step guide to painted the Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata sees Lizzie illusrtating this pretty little bird in real time, explaining the steps involved, colour mixes, and sharing details of the bird and its' habits.
There's a blog to accompany this film: lizzieharper.co.uk/2023/01/sp...
This approach can be used for all bird illustrations.
Equipment List
Paper: Fluid 100 by Global arts www.speedballart.com/our-prod...
Pencil: Pentel P205 HB lead www.pentel.co.uk/product/p205...
Brush: Winsor & Newton Series 7 sable, size 1 www.winsornewton.com/uk/brush...
Paints: Winsor & Newton watercolours
Colours used include: Burnt umber, Cobalt blue, Cerelean blue, Naples yellow, Cobalt green, Yellow ochre, Cadmium yellow, Cadmium orange, Purple, Winsor blue.... www.winsornewton.com/uk/paint...
White Gouache paint: www.winsornewton.com/int/pain...
Other things referred to in the film:
My films on comparing synthetic watercolour brushes:
• Comparing Synthetic Wa... and • Comparing Synthetic Wa...
More on the Spotted Flycatcher: www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wil...
Pete Walkden Wildlife photographer: www.petewalkden.co.uk/
Cusop Churchyard: www.cusop.net/community/cusop-...
Anatomy of Bird feathers and bird bones: www.sciencedirect.com/science...

[@suewegert2323]

I admire your patience and courage doing this challenging painting. Beautiful results.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Many many thanks, that's a lovely comment

[@EKS49]

Really enjoyed watching this Lizzie as always. more please

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you lovely E. Thinking of you.

[@emanation]

Oh Lizzie, that is so beautiful, not only are you so incredibly talented, but your generosity is sharing your process is so invaluable to people like me trying to take the first steps in learning about painting etc, thank you xxxx

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Darling Em, my total pleasure. Anyway, the way you're getting on with your art these days you don't need any guidance! xxx

[@woodywood1951]

one more very instructive video. Thanks for the time

[@kimhurley7019]

Another brilliant illustration! Thank you so much for sharing your process with us and taking the time to make it so real!!!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

My pleasure 😊 Its all worth it when lovely people like you leave such generous comments. Thankyou

[@AnnaLio]

МЕНІ Дуже подобається детальна промалевка. Я сама частенько цім захоплююсь. Дякую за чудовий мастерклас.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Дуже дякую за ваш добрий коментар, і я дуже радий, що вам подобається моя робота. Сподіваюся, Google Translate краще розмовляє українською, ніж я!

[@evabalazs3159]

Your work is amazing. Thank you for sharing your method.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you so much!

[@user-go6on8qs6n]

Beautiful!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you!

[@jandaniel9133]

Brilliant

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thankyou!

[@wendyynguyen8635]

You know it’s a good day when you see a new Lizzie Harper video out! Love your work, you are so incredibly talented ❤ thank you so much for sharing your process!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Wow, thank you! My absolute pleasure. Not sure about talent though. i reckon if anyone did "colouring in" like I do for 12 hours a day, over 30 years it'd look ok. Practise makes things better, generally. But what a lovely comment. Thankyou so much for that. x

[@michellerichert8225]

merci Lizzie, bel enseignement de patience , très bel oiseau tout en finesse, je suis sûre qu'il va chanter dans votre âme !

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Merci beaucoup Michelle. Oui, il est un tres bel oiseau, avec tous les coleurs gris et bruns. Merci pour ce comment.

[@michellerichert8225]

@@LizzieHarperillustrator et très beau dessin !

[@cherylbetas4156]

Wow and u said birds r not yr specialty. Wonderful job learned lots and I love yr sense of humour …I hav taken many tutorials and I really like the real talk and comments. Tks I hope u post lots more .. and I am keeping a sharp eye out for that marvelous book.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thankyou, that's such a lovely comment. Book will be out in 2025, fingers crossed. Im really glad you like the films, its such a treat to get such wonderful feedback, thanks x

[@agatagoss6444]

Beautiful

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you

[@gaiagreen2690]

Absolutely beautiful! I really love watching your videos, I always learn something new. They are very calming, enjoyable and the tiny details are so impressive. For me, your videos also have a special, enchanting quality of vintage British illustration art that remind me of the books from my childhood... Off to see the website!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Gaia, what a lovely comment. I find the idea that me painting is calming really funny, but you're not the first to say it. Thanks for being so appreciative of the detailing, too. And yes, I still am inspired by books from my own childhood, like the "Ladybird book of British birds and their nests", I know what you mean. x

[@srkzfan]

You are so wonderful and amazing - I LOVE your videos so much! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

You are so welcome! What a lovely thing to see first thing on a monday morning!

[@sharonreynolds4207]

So beautiful. I love your work and learn so much from you! I even bought a Series 7 brush today. I am inspired!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi Sharon, that's such a lovely message, I'm really pleased to hear it! I hope the number 7 becomes as loved by you as it is by me. A decent cheaper alternative that I've been using is the Princeton Velvetouch round size 2. Not as good as the series 7, but a close second. Enjoy your painting!

[@teresamitchell-banks2286]

Thank you so much. Excellent tutorial and very beautiful painting 🇨🇦

[@KikiFu]

Gorgeous bird! You're so talented. I also love your haircut 😍

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you so much!! And having all my hair chopped off was a good way to keep it out of the pant!

[@CarlosHernandez-le6ds]

Sra. Harper, como siempre, sus vídeos "BUENÍSIMOS", muchos tips, y este no podía quedarse atrás, Saludos desde México....

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

¡Muchas gracias! Me encanta la idea de que estés sentado en México mirándome trabajar, pintando este pajarito. Muchas gracias

[@aimeekeller7037]

I learn so much from your videos about biology as well as painting technique, and I find you incredibly entertaining! Thank you for your videos!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Wow, thank you! The biology is so fleeting - I learn it all for the species I'm illustrating that week, and in a month or so will have forgotten it all again! The films and blogs are a good way of hanging onto that learning for a bit longer! So glad you like the films, and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment x

[@irishcottagerenovation9900]

Beautiful illustration with such detail. I have just tried to paint a cuckoo as it has returned last week and totally struggled with feathers. But now I have watched your video where you have shown the detailed process, there is no excuse so I need to do another painting trying to achieve a better effect. Thank you very much for sharing

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Good luck! Take a close look at bird books and photographs too, and have a think about the anatomical way feathers are laid onto the body, especially the wing. Once youve figured out how to paint one feather, any bird will be within your grasp! I love cuckoos, despite their wicked ways. Enjoy it! And so glad the film helped

[@irishcottagerenovation9900]

@@LizzieHarperillustrator thank you

[@rettain]

Are you more comfortable with paint on this verses pen and ink? I love watching and learning from you. It is brilliant how you talk, even to yourself and we are able to learn things as you share. It is most wonderful!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Both! I love pen and ink but I also love pure watercolour. Generally, the choice comes down to what the client wants. I guess maybe I prefer the watercolours, you can get a bit more nuance there, But the crispness of pen and ink is something I love too. And I'm glad you find my talking endlessly helpful, and not simply annoying! Thanks for the comment. x

[@maritzamirandaferrer1334]

Really beautiful!! ❤

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you! 😊

[@gardengirl6636]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching you paint! Thank you for being so generous with your time and talents!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thank you so much! Im so pleased you enjoyed the film

[@janehodgett959]

Beautiful Lizzie thank you for sharing! Very inspiring 🤗✨👌

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

My pleasure, Jane

[@zenaidaportalino9016]

Que bella labor artistica, cuanta observación

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Muchos gracias!

[@unbeatablewinner2998]

Hi Lizzie. Beautiful work. Very inspiring to a latecomer to art (75). Do you trace or draw your outlines?

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hiya, Sometimes I do trace, yes. Usually it'll be with animals rather than plants as it's so easy to get the proportions wrong. I can draw freehand, but often its quicker to trace a photo, although you have to be incredibly careful if you do this. First, you needed to be sure you're not infringing anyone's copyright. Next, you need to be super careful something that you don't really notice, which is weird in the photo, doesn't get perpetuated in your illustration. And third, colours of photos are often waaay off. So I work from lots of images of the same animals, jig-sawing it together. A head from here, a wing from some other reference, the legs from elsewhere. And the background (if there is one) from a totally different source, often just form looking out of my studio window! And knowing a bit about animal anatomy is really helpful with this, otherwise the jigsaw would look odd. once Ive decided which bits to use, and have all my sources sorted, I piece it together using my projector which makes images bigger or smaller, so that way I can keep all aspects of the animals in proportion to one another. But if I CAN use my own photo reference, or draw the animals I will. It always feels a little more alive if I do this. And it can be much easier! Good question. And well done for picking up that paintbrush! How exciting!

[@MoiAussie1]

I’d love to see youpaint the mossy, licheny gravestone 🙏🏼

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Ah. it took hours, and I didnt film it...cause I had no real idea what I was doing! I always need to have at least a modicum of confidence before pressing "record". As it happens, it worked out ok. But thankyou. Next time Ill not pause the recording...maybe. xx

[@mela1404]

I am very grateful for the generosity of your time and transparency, I have learned so much from you! Of course you're illustrations are so life-like. I wanted to ask if you think you would be illustrating a sunflower anytime soon,?! I find them very challenging, especially the center, I love your work! So beautiful!!! Thankyou Lizzy! As a side note, I have studied the sunflower you painted already, and wanted to see how you do it (sorry for novel) no worries either way

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

You are so welcome! Sunflowers are out of season right now, but I think it might be a good subject. People love sunflowers, understandably. And you're right, the middle of a sunflower is really tough. Its based on the Fibonacci sequence, which relates to the mathamatical proportions of increasing size with spirals. If it makes you feel batter, when I illustrate sunflowers I always use a geometrical grid of this effect as a starting point, I literally will trace the grid, plot my individual seeds etc on top, then draw what I see in terms of petals. It's a good suggestion as a subject; lots of people want to draw them, it's quite a universal subject, and I could approach it like the Zinnia I did all those years ago, literally just illustrating a segment of the flower. Now I just need to wait for late summer to roll around so I can get my hands on one! Thanks for the suggestion, if I remember, Ill def do one at some point. Yours lizzie

[@mariacleaver7162]

Love your videos Lizzie, so full of helpful information and humour. Your illustrations are really beautiful! In your search for a replacement synthetic brush, have you tried the Billy Showell no.1 synthetic? If holds it's point beautifully and also has a full body to hold a good amount of paint.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Thanks Maria. I've now added the Billy Showell to my list to try. Now I need to get a windfall to buy the seven or eight synthetic contenders...and find time to try them out! I appreciate your suggestion, thankyou.

[@tinyfacemcgee9211]

I love it so much! Would you help with tree bark? Or beach roses in Maine! You make this look easy! I keep losing myself!

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Of course! Bark is just the layers of detail first, then two or three different grey top washes. Make sure theres planty of detail in your initial layer of observation. Beach roses in Maine (oh how lovely that sounds!) will be the same approach as any flowers. Build up body colour in a mid tone, with little brush strokes radiating outward from the centre of the flower, darker at centre and petal edges. then (once dry) two or three top layers of wash, being sure you dont swallow up your lights too soon. With the drawing of complex plants, you can always put a tiny spot of something like white gouache on a petal and a similar mark on your drawing. This helps navigate your way around a subject. Good luck!

[@creativecolours2022]

Hi Lizzie. Marialena's here! That was a fantastic bird illustration. You are so talented and your technique is so unique. Talking about your technique I've finished the Birds Foot Trefoil illustration from the webinar at my third attempt and bellow are my impressions and the things that were more difficult for me. Keep in mind that I'm saying all these as someone who paints with transparent colours build in multiple layers. By painting in your style I'm trying something completely different. It was impossible for me to paint in your painting technique/style the yellow flowers using the all transparent colours that I usually have in my palette. No matter what sort of mixes I've made in order to achieve the hue of the Birds Foot Trefoil flowers, ( which were quite accurate ) the outlines that I've made when I've plotted the shapes of the flowers didn't mix with the colour washes that I've applied afterwards, because my colours are extremely transparent and need further layers of the transparent colour in order to built the shapes. But when I've applied those extra layers I've lost the outlines! Something that didn't happen when I used more opaque yellows that I bought for this purpose. So I came up to the conclusion that your so characteristic and unique technique works with the selection of colours that you already have in your palette, that some of them are opaque ( as the cad yellows) some semi opaque and some are transparent. Now regarding my three different attempts. I've made three different attempts on three different types of paper. One on Bockingford HP that is FYI completely unsuitable for this way of painting because it has way too hard sizing and the colours lifted from it. I don't know what this paper is good for to tell you the truth. Perhaps for painting with markers of something like this! lol My second attempts was on Saunders Waterford HP Extra White which worked as a surface but the illustration failed due to the transparency of the colours. Outlines ( plotted shapes ) and multiple layers of colour don't match. And a third attempt was made with some more opaque colours that I bought for this purpose was the one that finally achieved the right results. This third attempt was on Saunders Waterford HP Extra White again but it could have been at any other decent smooth HP paper because it wasn't the surface that altered the results but the properties of the colours. So here is my conclusion. You technique is fantastic for small sized illustrations because it is great for building details. But this technique works with your selection of colours which are not all transparent or all opaque. Your palette has colours with mixed kind of properties that that work with this technique. So it would have been very useful if you could publish on your blog the list of colours that you have in your palette along with the pigments that these colours are made off. Yes... I know that this is going to be way too much trouble for you, and you are going to curse me ( please don't, I'm your friend! ) but it is necessary to try to remember what is what in your palette, because your selection of colours and the properties that these colours are part of your technique, that is not based on building the shapes with layers of washes, but more like drawing the shapes and the details and then add the colour washes.

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Hi Marielena I feel honoured that youve taken the time to road-test my approach so thoroughly. And Im really interested in what you say about the colours. i;'ve been coming to the same conclusion myself. its all very well talking about "a deep yellow" or "a purple", but I really should give accurate advice if people are going to the trouble of following my advice. In fact, I'm building up to taking everything out of my paint box (even though it all works fine), and buying in new pans, whose names I'll keep track of. it makes me feel a bit sick as Im so used to my own existing palette, but it's the only way to properly respect the efforts people following me make. its also going to cost a lot! I'm surprised with the yellows. Its not a problem I've had, the outlining. Possibly the yellows I use are much more opaque. Maybe if you mixed in a tiny amount of something like yellow ochre it'd bulk up the flower edges. but yes, you dont want a disconnect between the edge outline and the internal colour. Ill think about that when I do my paint box overhaul. Sorry the experiments didnt work brilliantly for you; I think I tried Saunders agaes ago and didnt fall in love with it. Saying that, in the last few weeks my ebloved FLuid 100 has been messing up - all soft and cottony and unable to hold a sharp line. Help! Ive written to the manafacturers to complain, but no response. SO for now Im back to Stonehenge aqua . Lovely to hear form you and thanks for such an exhaustive set of work, its really very very helpful. And maybe (gulp) today will be the day I "re-buy" all my paints! Yours Lizzie

[@creativecolours2022]

​@@LizzieHarperillustrator I'll send you an email because I replied to your comment and my reply just vanished! :KZbin comments suck!

[@MokxMatic-vn7us]

When you're painting, what size paper are you using? Full imperial or half or...

[@LizzieHarperillustrator]

Most of my paintings are done on A5 or A4 sheets.