Let's Paint a Hummingbird | Watercolor Tutorial with Sarah Cray

Jump to Tutorial ➝ 13:15
Little hummingbirds bring so much joy and have always been close to my heart! With this watercolor project, we are playing with color and texture. Even if you're just getting started with painting and art, you will be surprised at how well your hummingbird turns out. You can shop the kit here ➝ bit.ly/yt-Hummingbird or join us each and every month with our watercolor subscription box ➝ bit.ly/watercolor-art-box
If you're curious about learning more watercolor skills, check out our full offering of projects and supplies ➝ bit.ly/yt-Lets-Make-Art

[@suegruszka8280]

So beautiful. My favorite bird.❤

[@shannonericksen1291]

I have held 3 hummingbirds in my lifetime. One was a baby

[@FarmgirlFriday]

I laughed when Keenan said he was the youngest of nine and still gets teased. I'm the OLDEST of nine homeschooled siblings and I still dish it to my siblings. Sarcasm is our love language! My sisters and I get together and love doing your tutorials as a fun project because all of our varying artistic abilities can accomplish and enjoy them :)

[@archangel3433]

This makes me realize how GOD, truly is the most amazing artist there is ☺️❤️

[@jacquicherry1721]

Sarah, You really are one of my most favorite watercolor teachers. I love your pledge before starting. 😉 It’s great! And I love that you work in important points, like complimentary colors on the color wheel. Your hummingbird really is gorgeous! I can’t wait to try it! 😃 I’ve never taken an art class, but I did get to go to two watercolor workshops. She taught us in a very controlled method that was NOT loose at all! She worked with a lot of detail. So, this is new to me, but I’m sure going to try it. It looks like so much fun! We had a hummer fly into our garage years ago, and he was flying into things while trying to get back out. He was a danger to himself for that reason. The only way to help him was to catch him. So we did...gently...with a fishing net that happened to be there. I had the privilege of holding him for just a couple of minutes, while he rested up. He felt like he didn’t weigh anything at all! My boys were thrilled! We quickly carried him out and I simply lifted my arm, opened my hand, and allowed him to fly away. What a blessing! God gave me that gift as an encouragement when I truly needed it. I’ll never forget it! He loves us so much! God bless you and your dear little family. And God bless Keenan! He’s great! Jacqui

[@charlinefisher2650]

I found you on KZbin a couple months ago , don’t drive anymore so have found your teaching and banter a blessing , am enjoying painting along and almost think there are people here keep going congratulations on coming baby

[@melindarincon7571]

This was so much fun to watch! Thank you for letting us follow you and providing the sketch for free!! I really appreciate that. Your colors are so beautiful.

[@linettew8395]

Best watercolor tutorial I have seen. Thanks so much.

[@LetsMakeArt]

You are so sweet. Thank you for the feedback!

[@suel4269]

Thankyou for mentioning the Hummingbird nectar. Plain white sugar, 1 cup to 4 cups water. The premade red stuff is bad for them.

[@sherrybyars4490]

I have been watching you for a while and I am really enjoyed your segments. But today I’d like to paint along with you, painting the hummingbird but my drawing is terrible. You mentioned you gave the drawings free how can I get this one. You were so talented I thought I could follow along with you I could become better. Thank you

[@suel4269]

@@sherrybyars4490 outline should be on the Let’s Make Art website.

[@peggyfarlow5561]

Enjoying Sarah’s relaxed, upbeat and informative instruction! Thank u. Looking forward to completing my hummingbird!

[@LetsMakeArt]

Have fun!

[@dsmith1501ds]

I have just bought some liquid inks, so getting used to them whilst following along feeling like a beginner again! loved doing this one. I love watching and listening to your banter with Keenan. brilliant channel for all abilities.

[@vidyapradi3869]

Thank u u r teaching method superrr

[@beats2476]

I just love your channel. Thank you for sharing your talents. Hugs from NC

[@donnajuchtzer576]

Thank you for the worksheet so I can paint along. I always like to watch your watercolor tutorials, I always learn something and you guys keep me laughing.

[@kathybrandwein1735]

I love art i am 9 and a half it was a lot of fun to do. I liked the video and i love humming birds. It was a Christmas gift.

[@LetsMakeArt]

Welcome Kathy! Keep up the good work, we would love to see how your Hummingbird turned out.

[@isalawton6239]

I used to live on the west coast and had hummingbirds all over my feeders too. I just love those colorful little beauties. Thanks again for a great demo. Will have to get that one too!

[@bensara91513]

Keenan-“And We Danced” by The Hooters! I love that song!

[@sistahsunshine]

...about the whole white shirt / blue towel laundry thing.... that's why many laundry detergents are blue! also, fun fact, in offset lithography (CMYK printing press) we always added 30% cyan to our blacks to create rich black. OH, and if you are old enough to remember (ehem!) FUJI film added a "4th color layer" to their camera film that was cyan to make an amature photographer have nice rich color photos!

[@meeraahuja1594]

The tutorial is excellent. Thank you🌹

[@marissaramos8950]

I love how fluid and forgiving this is!! I am new to the group on FB and this is the first video I have watched and I can’t wait to dive into watercolor with my daughter! Thank you for this great video ! I will have to check out your website! Thank you

[@LetsMakeArt]

Can't wait to see your paintings!

[@jeffreyortiz3854]

Awesome. Ive learned so much from you !!!! Thanks so very much for your love of watercolor

[@LetsMakeArt]

❤️❤️❤️

[@strawberrysusie]

Yay a fellow homeschooler and youngest of a big family! 😊

[@mandytaylor1146]

Such a fun tutorial! Loved it.

[@sallyreff2574]

Seriously enjoyable! Thanks! I just dropped the intimidating feeling I usually feel

[@elizabethperez8818]

Thank you and thank you!!

[@dragonplus7354]

yesss cleaning the palette is amazing

[@LetsMakeArt]

It's so good!

[@vanessabryce]

You can also wear a blue-tinted lipgloss to make your teeth appear whiter! Same concept as washing the blue towel with your white shirt to make it look whiter!

[@JoseGarcia-zn6hw]

That is beautiful!!

[@tinascraftyinkspottinascra9638]

I just found your channel. Love watching you and your teaching method. Thank you.

[@LetsMakeArt]

Welcome!

[@imspideywho]

I was super behind on doing my watercolor boxes but I am slowly catching up! I realized too late that this box didn’t include the hummingbird supplies, so I am trying it without the reference photo. It’s definitely a lot more difficult for me but I love testing my skills out! Love you Sarah and Keenan!

[@LetsMakeArt]

Marissa was your January box missing the supplies? If so please reach out to our Customer Happiness team at [e-mail] and we can rectify that.

[@arlenemurphy804]

Love it

[@jackiebyers1272]

Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial!

[@LetsMakeArt]

You are so welcome!

[@joannnicol346]

Wonderful tutorial, learned so much from your lesson, thank you.

[@LetsMakeArt]

You're very welcome!

[@ednarodriguez5763]

Thank you for going into the values, I’m new to watercolor, and it’s definitely different to acrylic

[@LetsMakeArt]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ednarodriguez5763]

Yes it was! Do you have a page for your work on Instagram?

[@conniemesce4093]

Beautiful! ❤

[@LetsMakeArt]

Thank you!!❤️

[@Horsewoman-pt2ku]

I love your tutorials. Thank you for the hydrus equivalent as I have those and like to match colors.

[@littleguynoir3253]

In the old days we used "bluing" for white clothes. It came in a bottle and was added to the laundry water :)

[@LetsMakeArt]

A few of our team members can remember doing this.

[@Ieat2much]

I remember those days so clearly, our brand was Robin Blue. A thick blue liquid for our whites. 😛

[@emilypowersart6822]

Very pretty

[@yelsyels]

As a lefter I always raise my left hand!

[@ennelle2024]

Liquid Blue is a thing - for white clothes :)

[@juliebergacker5680]

Awesome. From Wisconsin👍

[@christinepechar8738]

Is this a Louise DeMasi tutorial? It looks fun!

[@danitagoins4574]

It’s called “bluing”. Like what the old ladies use on their hair. I am a vet tech and a groomer. I used bluing everyday on white dogs to make their white coats whiter. It’s actually made for white laundry.

[@appleknocker56]

Great video! Like way showed doing tiny lil marks! Looking to trace some images but couldn’t find place you mentioned?

[@LetsMakeArt]

If you go to our website, letsmakeart.com and then type in the search bar Outline Library you'll be able to access the free outlines we offer. Happy creating!

[@rayemartineau8644]

💗👍👀 2/16/22

[@Pamsartplace]

I’ve never used water colors...fun!

[@keannareddish191]

i love how there's no dislikes

[@LetsMakeArt]

Hard to dislike such sweet little hummingbird!

[@janesmith1917]

I hate seeing all that paint going away that's why I hate cleaning my pallets especially if it's watercolors and it could be wet and used. So I will use different types of pallets with different color schemes to make sure I don't have to wash any I'll just use those colors when I need them

[@andreafernbach8130]

Please, what brand of watercolors did you use for the hummingbird?! It's beautiful and vibrant! Nice work! Thank you! God bless and stay safe...

[@LetsMakeArt]

These are liquid watercolors made by Dandelion Paint Co. You can find them at the bottom of this page: www.letsmakeart.com/products/hummingbird-watercolor-kit

[@joanyearsley2739]

How do I get the reference drawing

[@T1murr]

You are so underrated--

[@LetsMakeArt]

Thank you for tuning in! We appreciate your support! :)

[@christinedickenson7514]

Hi - went to the website, but I don't see buttons that say "outline" or "no outline" - it looks like I have to buy a kit to get the outline.

[@LetsMakeArt]

Hi Christine! If you go to our site and use the search bar to search "outline library" you'll be able to access all of the free outlines we offer. If you click the link below, you'll be taken to the outline library. You'll want to scroll down to the "H" section and there you will find the Hummingbird outline. www.letsmakeart.com/pages/lets-make-art-outline-library?Social&

[@christinedickenson5902]

@@LetsMakeArt Thank you!! ☺️ I am going to paint that hummingbird today then!

[@yvonnedavis62]

I've searched for the sketch of the hummingbird as I didn't order the kit. Can you help me find it?

[@LetsMakeArt]

If you go to letsmakeart.com and use the search bar, type in Outline Library you'll be able to access all of the free outlines we offer.

[@carolhuesgen7381]

All links on your website are broken

[@gingerbuchanan2795]

Hummingbirds are the only bird with teeth.

[@cathyschell1133]

How do you determine where to start and the steps?

[@LetsMakeArt]

Cathy, Sarah maps all her steps out at the very beginning!

[@monicaj3023]

couldn't download the PDF. Is it me or is there a problem?

[@LetsMakeArt]

It looks like it is working on our end. Try it from this link: www.letsmakeart.com/products/hummingbird-outline

[@AMay0687]

What liquid paints do you use?

[@LetsMakeArt]

Dandelion paints! They are exclusive to Let's Make Art.

[@yelsyels]

What pens are you outlining with?

[@LetsMakeArt]

Sarah advises using a felt tipped pen to avoid having your lines too dark.

[@treehuggingbuddhist]

dinna fash yourself lass, we are all unofficially Scottish after reading the Outlander series.

[@LetsMakeArt]

Agreed!

[@maryfellows4159]

Yes we are! Because once you read Outlander (all 8 books....9 books?) then you will start at the beginning and read them again! The audiobook is great too.....and the show.

[@tamionchwari7550]

fyi, you need to clean your hummingbird feeders everyday because they develop bacteria, that when ingested by the bird, will cause their tongues to become protruded and they are unable to draw it back in and they will die of starvation.

[@pinkajou656]

Does anyone else draw their own templates???

[@pinkajou656]

I got a heart! Thank you!!