Light and shade

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

■ How to give the form a three-dimensional effect

■ Add salt, Clingfilm, wax resist and water spray textures to your work

■ Paint with a limited palette

As a child growing up in Brazil, I had two pet parrots that were handed down to us from a previous foreign family who left the country. Delightedly, we took them in and they lived in the garden on their perch, with the tropical climate keeping them happy. They were friendly, funny and colourful, and bring back wonderful memories. I chose this subject not only for its colours but also the contrast in light and shade that always makes for a better painting.

I used watercolour in a loose way in the following demonstration, creating a background with water spray and working wet into wet then kept the eye and face as crisp and in-focus as possible. The face is always the focal point of an animal portrait. Painting the eyes