How to Paint a Feather in Realistic Watercolour - Step by Step Tutorial in Real Time for Beginners

Welcome to my latest Wet in Wet Watercolour Tutorial!

I chose to paint a feather with you this week. Feathers are so pretty, and infinitely varied, and I used to think they would be difficult to paint. But actually they are quite simple, if you make sure you don’t use too much paint and overwork them

They are also really useful as a motif to use on a greetings card, singly or in groups, to use to cover a notebook, or simply to frame and give as a gift. Who wouldn’t be thrilled to receive a pretty feather painting as a birthday present?

You are welcome to use the ideas copyright free for your own use, but please do not sell a copy of one of my paintings. Please use the hashtag #dianeantonestudio if you share your painting on social media.

Materials used:
- 140lb NOT watercolour paper (any brand is fine)
- Medium and large sized round synthetic brushes with a good point - size 8 and 14 for example.
- White Designers Gouache (W & N)
- White gel pen (Uniball Signo)
- W & N artists watercolours, selection of colours including basic palette of Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Winsor Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Transparent Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ocre, Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, Paynes Grey, Winsor Violet, Winsor Green.
- HB pencil and eraser
- sharp pointed stick or cut store card for scratching out
- paper towel
- large jar of water

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If you are looking for suggestions as to what to purchase as a beginner, here are my recommendations. If you use these links I will receive a small commission from Amazon which will help to support my channel.

PAINT
Here is a link to a Winsor and Newton starters' paint box which would be ideal for a beginner.

This is a link to a Winsor and Newton Artists' quality box, which is ideal for a serious student.

TUBE PAINTS
I always have a tube of White Designers Gouache on hand for lights and corrections

These colours are very useful and don't usually appear in the sets the manufacturers make:
Naples Yellow
Quinacridone Gold
Permanent Rose
Indigo
Sepia

PAPER
Winsor and Newton Watercolour paper pad 140lb 9 x 12 inches ideal for all watercolour techniques.

Canson MONTVAL watercolour paper block 140lb 9 x 12 inches ideal for all watercolour techniques. Exceptional resiliance and easy to work with.

BRUSHES
Princeton do a good range of synthetic squirrel brushes. This is a size 10 round.
And Winsor and Newton Cotman brushes are also good. This is a size 10 round.

I often use a rigger brush (called script liner in the US) and this is a link to the Cotman range of riggers, this is size 1.
A size 3 would also be useful.

Staedtler Noris Karat Aquarell black watercolour pencils

[laura-jeannuno]

I’m heartened to learn these great techniques…this watercolor month challenge has just swamped me into a corner. This feather tutorial is just what I needed…❤

[cathygraetz]

Beautiful, Diane! Always a privilege to watch a master at work.

[conniemesce]

Your feather looked so real, beautiful 😍

[wimjanssen]

My 218 th. Nature is beautiful when paying attention. One way to do this and feeling humble is to paint. You did it in a recpectful way and I can't wait to try it. Warm feelings 😊wim

[CookieMum]

Love this calming tutorial. Your feather is lovely.

[deborahrabine]

One of my favorite subjects to paint. Yours are lovely.

[brendadeveau]

Wow!! So great! Can’t wait to try this. Thank you so much for this😋😋🤗🤗

[DEK-nyc]

Love this! I have Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI New 24 Color Set II "Art nouveau". Can I try this with that? I am totally new and it's the only paint I've used so far. I haven't tried tubes yet. If so, I assume I can use my watercolor paper. Should I invest in a tube of White Designers Gouache (W & N). Thank you. I am fired up and loving all the tutorials.

[eileenpeat]

Thank you Diane for showing us how to paint a feather. I will have fun trying this myself. 😊

[LeighaLeighton]

Very pretty and like the pastel colors 🐯💕

[NanaBeth]

Well darn. The traceable is gone & I just found this. I need to give this a try. I have a nice collection of feathers I've found on the ground.