Jean Mackay – The Art of the Bird: Eggs, Feathers and Nests (Online); Tuesdays, April 1, 15, 29 & May 13, 2025

Date: Tuesdays, April 1, 15, 29 & May 13, 2025
Time: 3:00-5:00 PM Pacific Time, 6:00-8:00 PM Eastern Time, 11:00 PM-1:00 AM London Time
Level: All
Medium: Ink & Watercolor

Supply List

This class will focus on the beauty that birds create in the form of eggs, feathers, and nests. The variety of shapes, patterns, and colors provide endless artistic possibilities. We’ll use a variety of media, including pencil, ink, and watercolor to capture eggs, feathers, and nests. Each class will include background natural history to help inform your artwork, demonstrations of various techniques, and practice lessons. Optional weekly assignments will help you practice and build your skills.

Week 1: Eggs

We’ll start at the beginning by learning how eggs are made and why painting them with watercolor works so well. We’ll focus on making eggs look dimensional, keeping edges clean, and adding shadows and markings.

Week 2: Feathers

Learn about different types of feathers and then practice painting dark, light, and barred feathers in watercolor.

Week 3: Simple Nests

Learn about different types of nests and nest materials. Starting with simple nests, we’ll focus on making nests look dimensional. Then we’ll begin to look at how to approach complicated nesting materials as a lead into the final session.

Week 4: Complicated Nests

You’ll tackle a more complicated nest during this session, focusing on using negative drawing and painting techniques to build depth and complexity.