How do you paint a hummingbird step by step?

Hummingbirds are beautiful, delicate creatures that can make a wonderful subject for a painting. Their iridescent feathers shimmer in the light, creating an eye-catching focal point. While hummingbirds have intricate details, they can be broken down into simple shapes and colors that make them approachable for beginning painters. With some patience and the right supplies, anyone can learn how to paint a realistic hummingbird.

Materials Needed

Painting a hummingbird requires basic painting supplies like paint, brushes, and canvas. Here is a list of the recommended materials:

• Acrylic paint in various colors like red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, white, and brown
• Paintbrushes in a variety of sizes including small detail brushes
• A canvas, canvas board, or canvas paper
• A palette for mixing paint colors
• Painting medium like acrylic glazing liquid
• Water cup for cleaning brushes
• Paper towels for blotting brushes
• Pencil and eraser
• Reference photo of a hummingbird

Acrylic paint is ideal for painting hummingbirds because it dries quickly, allowing you to layer colors easily. Gather your painting supplies before you begin the project so everything is ready to go.

Prepare the Canvas

Start by preparing your canvas so you have a smooth painting surface. Here are some tips for prepping your canvas:

• Use gesso or acrylic white paint to prime the canvas if needed
• Sand or smooth any rough areas so brushstrokes glide smoothly
• Apply a thin wash of acrylic paint over the surface to tone the canvas
• Use a pencil to lightly sketch the outline of the hummingbird

Take your time preparing the canvas properly so you can avoid having texture or colors show through your painting. It also helps to have an outline in place before painting so you maintain proper shape and proportions.

Paint the Background

With your canvas prepped and outline drawn, you can start painting the background. Here are some tips for painting the background:

• Mix colors like light blue, green, yellow, and white to create a bright, airy background
• Use long sweeping brushstrokes to suggest shapes of flowers and leaves
• Paint shadow areas with darker, more saturated versions of the colors
• Let each layer of paint dry before adding additional layers
• Keep the background simple to avoid overpowering the hummingbird

The background should be finished first before painting the detailed hummingbird. Allow all your background layers to fully dry before moving onto the next step.

Paint the Body

After the background has dried, you can start painting the hummingbird’s body. Follow these steps:

1. Mix a medium green color and paint in the body with basic shapes
2. Add a lighter green to the mix and paint the belly and throat area
3. Paint black around the eyes and beak leaving white spaces for highlights
4. Use shades of gray to paint the feet and define the shape
5. Let each layer dry fully before adding another layer of paint

Building up the body gradually with layers creates depth and form. Always let the paint dry fully between adding new paint so the colors remain bright.

Paint the Tail

A hummingbird’s tail is made up of long tapering feathers. To paint the tail:

• Use a small detail brush to paint alternating stripes of color down the tail
• Choose colors like brown, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple
• Start with lighter colors first using long brushstrokes, then layer darker colors on top
• Make sure the tail feathers connect to the body smoothly
• Add darker colors to the edges and underside of the tail

Building up transparent layers of color help make the tail shimmer and look iridescent. Let each layer dry fully before adding another color.

Paint the Wings

A hummingbird’s wings move so quickly they appear as a blur. To capture the movement and iridescence, use these steps when painting the wings:

1. Outline the basic wing shape with a dark color like black or brown
2. Fill in the wing with bright primary colors like red, yellow, and blue
3. Paint some darker feather details along the edges of the wings
4. Use short, curved brushstrokes to suggest movement and vibration
5. Blend the wing colors together so they transition smoothly

Avoid over-blending the colors on the wings, as defined brushstrokes help create a sense of motion.

Add the Finishing Details

The finishing details will bring your hummingbird painting to life. Here are some final touches to add:

• Highlight bright whites or metallic colors on the throat, belly, and tail
• Define the beak and feet with darker shadowed areas
• Paint white highlights in the eyes
• Use a small detail brush to paint feather details
• Add some darker shadows and depth to the background
• Sign and date your finished painting

Step back frequently to check that all the elements are balanced. The highlights and shadows help create a realistic, 3D effect.

Tips for Painting Hummingbirds

Follow these tips as you work on your hummingbird painting:

• Use reference photos to accurately capture the colors and patterns
• Start by blocking in the basic shapes then refine the details
• Layer lighter colors first, then add darker colors on top
• Allow each paint layer to fully dry before adding new paint
• Use a mix of brushstroke directions to replicate feathers
• Aim to create contrast between the light and dark areas

Take your time perfecting each element as you work. Stepping away periodically helps give you a fresh perspective.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes to avoid with your hummingbird painting:

• Not allowing enough time for paint layers to dry between applications
• Making the wings and tail too small proportional to the body
• Blending the colors too much so the vibrancy gets lost
• Forgetting to outline the basic shape first before painting
• Not having enough contrast between lights and darks
• Applying too much pure white which can overpower other colors

Referring frequently to photo references can help you avoid proportional mistakes. Take your time and don’t rush through blending and layering for best results.

Conclusion

With some patience and practice, you can learn to paint beautiful, realistic hummingbirds. The key is working in thin layers, allowing drying time between applications, and carefully defining the small details with a small-tipped brush. Take advantage of acrylic’s quick-drying properties to build up transparent layers of mixed colors. If you make a mistake, you can let the paint dry fully and then paint over it again. Experiment with layering complementary colors and using reference photos to achieve an accurate, vibrant result. The finished painting will capture the hummingbird’s delicate beauty and seeming suspension in air.