Recently added to the Latest Videos section of DesignMatters TV videos was my workshop to make an applique Partridge in a Pear Tree festive panel. We thought you might be interested to see how I add final painted detail to the appliqué bird. Let me show you step by step.

First I mark the position of the eye and the beak with a watercolour pencil. The pencil line will dissolve and blend with subsequent applications of paint. I’m using a Derwent Inktense pencil, but any watersoluble coloured pencil will work just fine. Use a colour that will show, but will also blend quite well with the paints in the next step.

Next I paint in a dark shape for the eye using black acrylic paint and a very fine round brush. You could also use fabric paint. Just refer to the manufacturer’s guideines for how to fix any paint product.

The beak and the markings across the back of the head are painted in the same way. Keep the brush quite dry to suggest feathery marks and just stroke it over the surface building up the colour gradually.

Bright vermillion might seem a strange choice for the eye but it will provide a lively accent and help bring it to life. Add a little stroke of colour to the eye area. If it seems too harsh, blend it slightly with a clean brush.

A little raw umber is added to colour the iris but the  biggest transformation occurs when titanium white highlights are painted in to give a realistic gleam. If you find your colours are bleeding together as you paint, use slightly less water, pat your brush dry between loading with different colours and allow your work to dry between paint layers.

A few final brush strokes accentuate the dark markings on the bird’s cheek and throat and more titanium white adds the ‘eyebrow’.

And here he is in all his glory!

Hope you enjoyed seeing the process in step by step detail. 

Bye for now – Linda x