I'm out of practice, bird paintings, but hate backgrounds + feet!!!

[CrazyDaizy]

Hia Folks

I love painting birdlife, but I'm out of practice. This morning my "creative juices" have been flowing again, and I've found out all my old painting things (prefer watercolour)

I decided to do a painting of a small bird on a small piece of paper, but it was no good. I don't do small (does this sound familiar to some of you??) I prefer big. Or bigger. So now I'm sketching a blackbird and will paint it.

But I'm useless at backgrounds. In fact if I paint a background it usually spoils my painting as I don't want to do the background, just the bird.

So, I'm painting on some kind of paper that already has a "mottled" background.

Birds legs and feet. They spoil my picture too if I'm not careful. I could "hide" them in water (as in ducks) but as I say, I don't like backgrounds and would have no patience with water.

Anyway, that's my little rant. I hope anyone has any tips and advice they can give me.

[StefC]

Could you mix up some sewing with your painting? Sew on, glue on, otherwise attach pictures, photo or cut up magazines of leaves etc - sort of decoupage!

That way you could place leaves or flowers or other things over the legs and feet and concentrate on the bits you like. I like the idea of mottled paper as a background.

[TheNonsenseFairy]

Im the opposite and can't work big. I loose intimacy with the paper (although i paint on fabric) if it's too big.

Incorporating stitching into your paintings is a great idea.
Maybe painting on fabric? Although if your using watercolours it won't be as effective as the paint will soak up the fabric and run.
Backgrounds always get me too, if you look at my illustrations they only have a foreground- sometimes there is just no need for a background, it can distract you, I always use textures and washes of colour or shading to imply a background, your idea of mottled paper is a good one. Perhaps you could just put washes in the backgrounds fading out into the paper. Like a vignette?
I hope that made sense, although I doubt it will be useful advice!!

[Christa]

Have you coinsidered sponging or brayering for your backgrounds and maybe using masking techniques...the results can be amazing and just takes a teeny bit of practice...once you have your background you can then do what you love best...

[Oakdale Studios]

Most good/great photos that go into great detail of the subject usually "blur" the background (not in focus) so it gives an "indication" of a background and doesn't take your eye off of the subject.

I met a guy that couldn't paint trees so he glued some sticks onto his picture with great effect!