Perching Birds #4: Yellow Warbler
Warblers: those ever elusive, but much beloved sprites of the tree tops; flitting about, dashing out and then back again, catching insects on the fly or just daring you to find them amidst the greenery. Capturing the yellow warbler on paper proved challenging, too. Perhaps it is because these perky little birds rarely sit still, so making them pose on paper seemed unnatural. Or maybe it’s that paint pales in comparison with the stunningly bright yellow of this warbler in sunshine. Nonetheless, #4 in my perching bird series is complete and, after several weeks of painting birds, I’m planning to turn my attention to other subjects for a while. (Click image to view larger.)
Tips and Techniques– Yellow can be a devilish color! It seems so light, yet, like other colors, there is a whole range of values from light to dark. Shadows on yellow are also tricky. They sometimes appear greenish or purple or gray. It’s easy to get murky laying shadows on yellow in watercolor. My advice when painting yellow (think daffodils, or lemons, or warblers), is to start lighter than you think. Leave the white of the paper for the brightest areas. Do a few washes to deepen values as needed. Experiment with different shadow tones on a separate test sheet– again, you may not need to go too dark to achieve variety and form.
Drawn In 
Gorgeous! thanks
So pretty. We get these little beauties every year. I usually hear them first before I actually see them. You captured them beautifully. Thanks for the tip as always. I’ve ruined more than one sketch with yellow. This is good advice.
Thanks Erica- I usually hear them first, too and then begin the search. You’d think yellow would be easy– such a lovely color.
Exquisite! Just yesterday I attempted to paint some yellow store bought tulips, not fully opened. Try as I might, my yellows became too intense, to quickly. This requires a slow process of allowing whites and building color with a patient hand.
Thank you for the beauty of the yellow warbler!
Thanks for writing Bernadette– I’m glad to know its not just me who struggles with yellows. Good luck with your tulips!
I love this series! The birds and the lettering and the color are so interesting together. Please keep them coming.
Thanks! I plan to come back around to more after working on some other things. I’d like to do a wood thrush and maybe a blue jay.
I am glad you plan on continuing the series. Could I ask for meadowlark, an oriole, a bobolink, a red winged blackbird, a mockingbird to start? Then there are owls . . . And raptors . . . 😉
Those are excellent suggestions…though Meadowlark has a lot of letters…as does Bobolink. Not so much with Jay!
Great job with that yellow-that color is tough!
Thanks Karen- I went a little darker than I should have on the first pass, but managed to lift some to lighten it. I need to remember my own advice.
It is good advice! I need to remember it too…
Gorgeous birds and lettering, Jean. The W perch is so fun! 🙂
Thanks Myriam- I was pleased with that positioning. It took awhile to get the legs to sit on that slant of the W!
Beautiful rendering, Jean!
Thanks Laurel! Hope the art show is a great success!
Lovely little Yellow warblers, may they sing and sing and sing.
Blue and yellow. My favourite colours. I like how those colours compliment each other. Adorable creatures.