Black Feathers are NOT Painted with JUST BLACK Paint!

Learn to paint realistic black feathers with professional artist Paul Hopkinson, you won't need just black paint!
There is definitely a way of painting black feathers in watercolor so that they look like actual feathers. As a realistic artist I don't want a blackbird which has been filled in with solid black paint. For starters, it would look like a cartoon and secondly there would be no shape or definition to the bird. Working the feathers in different colours and in progressively more refined layers enables a more focused approach. This will result in feathers that look fluffy and a bird that looks like it has a three-dimensional form. I hope you find this video useful, do leave me a comment if you did.
That's black feathers, what about black fur? Take a look at this video to find out: bit.ly/3tJSZqj
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🕒 Timestamps 🕒
00:00 How to paint realistic black feathers in watercolor
00:27 First layer of feather detail
06:06 Softening down and second layer of feather detail
09:30 Applying watercolor washes to develop shape and tone
13:30 Fine-tuning the blackbird watercolor painting
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#PaulHopkinson #TheDevonArtist #WildlifeinWatercolour

[@lallison1313]

It is so lifelike! You are such a brilliant teacher Paul & so glad I found your channel, & website. I’m currently in the middle of your barn owl tutorial & thought I’d better call it a night. Then I got this notification, couldn’t help myself & had to watch. Thanks again

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Lynette, thank you very much for your kind words. Have fun with the Barn Owl tutorial, those heart shaped faces are lovely to paint. Think about a clock face as you do this. Paul 🎨

[@rachelwalton3772]

"You don't want it to look like the bird's just come back from the barber's" LOL!

[@TheDevonArtist]

LOL, yes.....I do have a habit of saying that. ;-)

[@TJ-Ox]

Incredible work, You are a patient man Sir! Very well done.

[@TheDevonArtist]

That's very kind of you, thank you. 😊

[@TheDevonArtist]

What are your struggles with black paint? Leave me a comment and maybe I can help. In the meantime this video may be useful: bit.ly/3tJSZqj it is all about painting black fur and the different types of black paint.

[@TheLindalord]

I don't have a black paint. I mix it with Burnt Umber and Ultramarine. sometimes warmer, other times cooler. But I love watching you paint.

[@gautamchakraverty488]

very educative and simplified technique to paint a black coloured bird. ONe must go multi layered.start from lightest colour and gradually go dark . keepin mind not to obliterate the earlier layer and finally to know when to stop

[@TheDevonArtist]

Exactly right Gautam, thank you. :-)

[@mindykeys206]

So helpful and insightful as always. You make something that at first seems impossible - actually within reach. Fantastic.

[@TheDevonArtist]

You can do it as well Mindy, in fact......I know you can. 😉

[@punjabpainting2002]

Beautiful painting

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you, I am glad you like my work and thank you for leaving a comment too. 🎨

[@punjabpainting2002]

@@TheDevonArtist most welcome dear friend 🤩

[@AnimalArtbyTerraCotta]

Love the delicate layers you painted in ... I think of tiny strokes like that as butterfly strokes! 🦋🎨🦋

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you so much! Paul 🎨

[@kimhoffmann8460]

Can you do a video of a long haired, multi colored dog please?? Like a Welsh Terrier or a doodle..please!

[@TheDevonArtist]

This sounds like a challenge Kim, I will see what I can find for my list of possible paintings. Thank you for the suggestion, Paul 🎨

[@cherylj.harris4967]

This video; using more than just black pigment to paint black, will bring correction to my problems. Thank you!

[@TheDevonArtist]

So glad that I could help Cheryl, and hopefully you will see an improvement in your work. This video may help you further: bit.ly/2ONyWac it is also about black paint and how to use it effectively.

[@carolynskipper8910]

Great description and painting, spoken in a calming voice which makes the painting feel so good to do, thanks.

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Carolyn, thank you very much for your lovely words, Paul 🎨

[@barbararomano5383]

Love your teachings methods. I've learned a lot. Thank you!

[@TheDevonArtist]

You are so welcome Barbara, thank you for watching my videos here. Paul 🎨

[@stefanie3717]

This is so amazingly helpful!! One of the things I have been struggling with (I need to watch more videos!) are conveying that layering sense in birds with very triangular, spade-shaped feathers around the head like what a lot of birds of prey have.....

[@TheDevonArtist]

Absolutely Stefanie, very often the feathers can look that way, plus even more so when they are wet. Thank you for watching, Paul 🎨

[@ruthherring6035]

Wow! Beautiful. Thank you

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you Ruth 😀

[@jakea1035]

Thank you for sharing your great talent.

[@TheDevonArtist]

Jake, thank you for watching as well. Paul 🎨

[@Burberry428]

Wow thanks, thanks, thanks Paul!!!!

[@TheDevonArtist]

You are very welcome and thank you for leaving a comment, that is much appreciated. 🎨

[@strictlymyopinion8307]

Thank you, I wanted to learn how to do this 🙂

[@TheDevonArtist]

You are very welcome, I am glad that you found it useful, and thanks for leaving a comment. If you want more black watercolour painting tips, this video may help too: bit.ly/2ONyWac 🎨

[@meenakshisharma4710]

Thank you for uploading this tutorial...it was very helpful

[@TheDevonArtist]

Glad it was helpful to you, thank you for looking. 😁

[@anandmurthy4243]

Superb ❤️

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you :-)

[@avtechpew3192]

I am so happy. i like realism. I have no words because you are another level skill full superb artist. you have deserved billions of subs. great job my dear keep it up

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you so much 😀

[@maggiedoor6093]

A head doesn't seem as overwhelming to me as a full bird. So I will try. Maybe a video on bird's feet, tail etc would be good. Many thanks for sharing.

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you, Maggie, glad you found it useful, and I agree sometimes working on an aspect of a bird can really help build your skills and confidence. As it happens I have a playlist here on KZbin which looks at bird feet and how to paint them. (bit.ly/3rIQKBY) As for their tails .... that's another story, I'll think about that one and see what I can do.

[@BilderbergCEO]

The painted eye looks more realistic than the photo.

[@TheDevonArtist]

That's very kind of you, thank you. 😀

[@user-ko8hp1rc6y]

Fantastic tutorial. I have always wanted to know how to paint feathers. I really want to improve my bird painting. Did you use a special brush in one part of the painting? The bristles loked like they were a fork shape.

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi, this is a homemade brush, here is a link to another one of my videos, for you on the one in question. bit.ly/3HW8FPM

[@debbiebruce6920]

What a beautiful bird! Did you use an embossing tool on this picture?

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Debbie, thank you very much. No, I don't recall using one for this painting. Embossing tools are something I rarely use. Paul 🎨

[@scarz1951]

Outstanding! You da man when it comes to painting wildlife. No bout adoubt it! This is a beautiful little bird. I'd love to see you paint a mynah bird. A vulture and a buzzard would be nice too. I fully realize that They aren't nature's darlings but if you look really close at a vultures head and neck there are so many details not to mention the colors. I've seen blues, purples and reds not just blacks. Poor sad looking things. I rekkin I'd look sad if I had to subsist off of rotten meat. Huh...these days some of us are lucky to have any sort of meat at all. That wee bug is a mean 'un! Chuck

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you Scarz for your excellent suggestions, I've never painted a Vulture as yet, you never know. Thank you for watching, Paul 🎨

[@terryhanson7333]

my brushes dont hold color like yours. can you recommend brush type and size for feathers. your the best!

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Terry, to be honest my size 00 brushes don't hold a lot of liquid. This is due to them being both synthetic and of course tiny. 😀 Here is a link to the materials I like to use, just to give you some ideas. Paul 🎨 devonartist.co.uk/materials-i-use-or-recommend-for-realistic-watercolour/

[@terischiech]

I took a photo of a black rooster. The colors are brilliant. The feathers are much larger than a bird. Any tips?

[@TheDevonArtist]

What a lovely challenge Teri, try working on one feather at a time, so get the basic foundation washes on first for all the feathers, then just concentrate on completing just the one feather. This is how I work when faced with individual feathers. I have an old video here which may help a little as well. bit.ly/3alLZrl Paul :-)

[@debbielowrey]

I find black quite difficult as it never looks black enough.

[@TheDevonArtist]

I know what you mean Debbie, sometimes it's work adding a further layer. I find if you go too thick to begin with, you end up with a shine to the paint once dry. Paul 🎨

[@JJLewis-so1iq]

amazing video. how much dry time are you allowing between painting the feathers and the softening?

[@TheDevonArtist]

It depends on whether or now I need a slight damp, wet-in-wet feel to the layers. Normally, I will give them a light dry (from a distance) with a hairdrier, so I can apply the next layer. Paul 🎨

[@JJLewis-so1iq]

@@TheDevonArtist thanks! I love your work!

[@TheDevonArtist]

@@JJLewis-so1iq Thank you very much. 😊

[@joycestevens376]

What color did you initially paint the head? I am working on an American Oystercatcher that has a black head. Thanks you.

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Joyce, I tend to use very watery washes of blue for the top of the head (light catching areas), and watery browns, reds for the main sections. 😀

[@cltherrien]

When you use the damp brush between layers, do you wait for the pervious layer to be dry?

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Cathy, yes the previous layer is usually dry first. Thank you for asking. Paul 🎨

[@shaustin22]

How many layers would you say you normally do for feathers??

[@TheDevonArtist]

Hi Shaustin, I do vary it a little but very often three of four layers, it all depends on how deep you wish the feathers to feel, keeping each layer light, not going too dark too quickly. Paul 🎨

[@shaustin22]

@@TheDevonArtist ok thanks so much for your reply.

[@rezajamshidi8685]

👍❤️

[@TheDevonArtist]

Thank you 😊

[@joycestevens376]

How many layers do you add to get to the final layer of the feathers on the head?

[@TheDevonArtist]

It tends to vary Joyce, and I can't quite remember with this painting, but it's mostly two or three layers. 😀

[@joycestevens376]

@@TheDevonArtist Thank you very much for your responses to my questions. It seems I truly need to learn about layering and letting each layer dry. Your birds are beautiful.

[@TheDevonArtist]

@@joycestevens376 You're welcome Joyce, thank you for watching my videos on here. 😀

[@HerradaJulio]

it is hard to paint when you have actually feathers like with a raven.

[@TheDevonArtist]

I agree, that does involve a different sort of technique which perhaps I will look at in more detail in a future video. In the meantime, whilst this video is taken from a live painting session, you may find how I finish off the Osprey feathers useful: bit.ly/3erYWD0

[@HerradaJulio]

@@TheDevonArtist Thanks