Blue Kingfisher

Blue Kingfisher on 300# Cold Press

Today I decided to take a crack at painting a bird. Birds have always fascinated me as subjects because many of them are incredibly colorful—making them a natural fit for watercolor painting.

I spent some time working on the drawing first, refining the shapes and proportions until I was happy with it. Once the sketch felt solid, I transferred it onto my watercolor paper. For this piece I chose a heavier paper than I normally use: 300 lb cold press. This type of paper absorbs paint very quickly, which means I have to work faster than usual to achieve those soft, variegated washes that watercolor is known for. I’m still getting used to it and learning how to manage the timing, but that challenge is part of the fun.

I wanted the background to be lively and colorful, so I started there before moving on to the bird itself. After the background was established, the rest of the process involved gradually building color and form through additional layers of washes. As the painting came together, I added a few splatters at the end for a bit of artistic flair and energy.

All in all, the painting took about an hour to complete. I also filmed the process and will be posting the video on my YouTube channel, John Jakovlic Artist, so you can follow along with the entire demonstration.

I hope you enjoy the painting as much as I enjoyed creating it.