My name is Jennifer Laurel Keller and today I’m doing a whimsical lesson where I show you how to paint these sweet little birds using acrylic paint on watercolor paper or canvas. I love painting both realistically and with more playful styles, so today I thought we would brighten the mood with color and mark-making to create these light-hearted birds.

This is a fun, colorful project where you can relax and learn without the pressure to make things perfect. These are make-believe birds, so there’s no need to worry about making them life-like or having the exact same colors as me. You’re going to use your imagination as well as learn some acrylic painting techniques that you can use in your other art projects.

In this class, I go over everything step-by-step. We’ll begin with a sketch to plot out the piece, then do an underpainting. I’ll then go over how to create a layered background. We’ll block in some pretty colors, and finally, I’ll show you how to bring the piece to life with light and some darling little details. You’ll find reference images and a materials list down below, so don’t miss those. I’ll also cover what materials I’m using as I use them in the class. I can't wait to see what you create, so please feel free to share photos of your finished pieces. :-)