Painting a Cardinal in Watercolour: Tips for Red Success

I always struggle using red pigments. In this video I demonstrate a way I made it easier for myself when I painted a Cardinal in watercolor.
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:41 Red pigments give me trouble!
2:00 The colours I used
2:14 The paper I used
2:27 The reference photo
2:46 Painting demonstration: Washing in the head
6:07 Painting demonstration: Washing in the body
8:36 Painting demonstration: Washing in the tail feathers
9:24 Painting demonstration: Adding detail to the head
14:06 Painting demonstration: Adding detail to the tail
14:55 Painting demonstration: Painting the branch
17:44 The finished painting
17:54 Outro- Merry Christmas!
18:18 Bloopers
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More Watercolour Tutorials here on KZread: 💦
Using a simple watercolor technique called ‘Charging’ • Transform Your Art wit...
Avoiding hard edges when painting in watercolor: • Avoiding hard edges wh...
The importance of underwashes: Avoiding overworking • The Importance of Init...
How to paint a flat wash in watercolor: • How to Paint a Flat Wa...
How to paint a graded wash in watercolor: • How to paint a graded ...
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Пікірлер: 94

  • @_Adrian_Llarena_
    @_Adrian_Llarena_ Жыл бұрын

    I struggle with painting reds too. It's difficult to put dark shadows with soft edges 'cause the paint lifts so easily. Tips I can share with you are: •1st tip: while the main red paint is still wet, put the darkest shadows right away using wet on wet. have as few layers as possible. •2nd tip: put the darkest shadows first. then glaze it with your main red afterwards. the shadows will be seen through the main red (just make sure you're using transparent pigments). also, glazing it will make your shadows softer. you can build up the layers easily because you already established the colors on the early stage of your painting

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks very much for the tips Adrian. ❤️

  • @alastairgoodall1694
    @alastairgoodall1694 Жыл бұрын

    Stunning work. I’ve just returned to watercolour after a twenty years and watching you has improved my bird paintings so much, especially the negative painting of feathers. Thank you for inspiring me.

  • @susanmiddlebrook5882
    @susanmiddlebrook5882 Жыл бұрын

    I love your cardinal! So beautiful and Christmasy! You always amaze me, Louise! With every stroke of your brush out of nothing emerges this gorgeous red bird with all the tones and shade appearing! You are a very gifted artist and my you are my favorite! Thank you so much for all the beauty you bless me with- year in, year out! Merry Christmas to you and your family. Enjoy that grandson, too. What a fun time Christmas is with little ones around! Have a blessed 2023, too! Here’s to many more masterpieces from my favorite artist! Love.♥️👏🏻🎄

  • @renee1292
    @renee1292 Жыл бұрын

    I love the way this came out! Red really is a challenge. It's hard to layer or create shadows. The more I try to darken the shadows the more overworked it looks. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  • @meeow2165
    @meeow2165 Жыл бұрын

    Good idea for separate black palette!

  • @susannecarr4056
    @susannecarr4056 Жыл бұрын

    My friend was working on a very large red poppy about three feet by four feet. I was painting a landscape close by and remember him having a terrible time with the red. He would have the red value just right in the palette and on application but it seemed to disappear upon drying. He finally finished the painting but the red was certainly a challenge. I am going to begin painting my poinsettia piece tomorrow and shall be mindful of applying most of what I want in the first stage of wet on wet. Thank you. I really enjoy your videos.

  • @janemerves7682
    @janemerves7682 Жыл бұрын

    So beautiful. I love how your subjects suddenly come to life with the final strokes.

  • @a.cornelia
    @a.cornelia Жыл бұрын

    Gorgeous! I would look so lovely next to the first Patreon cardinal we’ve put in our daughter’s room 🥰

  • @catherinevangass4927
    @catherinevangass4927 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful!!

  • @cindybtanner3974
    @cindybtanner3974 Жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas Louise! Fascinating observation about red pigment. Thank you

  • @dianakoeppel3492
    @dianakoeppel3492 Жыл бұрын

    Lovely painting! Thank you. Merry Christmas.

  • @AnnieNoodle
    @AnnieNoodle Жыл бұрын

    Three seconds into this video, and I just needed to say that I love the green light with your red shirt! Lovely!! And merry Christmas!!

  • @marygeorge2467
    @marygeorge2467 Жыл бұрын

    Wow, just lovely! Thank you!🥰

  • @audreysmocovich8380
    @audreysmocovich8380 Жыл бұрын

    Another beautiful video Louise. Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎅🍾🎄💕

  • @kaleidascopescreates
    @kaleidascopescreates Жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas - great tutorial Louise!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! You too K.

  • @sylviamok675
    @sylviamok675 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Louise. Merry Christmas to you and your family! 🎄🤶

  • @barryedgington6812
    @barryedgington6812 Жыл бұрын

    Louise, your Cardinal is so perfect and beautiful! We have many male and female cardinals that comes to our feeder regularly. You should be so happy with your painting! We live in Ottawa, Canada. Right now we are having the worst snow storm we have had in a long time. We are all snowed in and no one can come for Christmas this year. Watching this beautiful tutorial really warmed my heart. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and your family. Helene❤

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm so sorry Helene! I hope you had a lovely Christmas with Barry just the same. Happy New Year! Stay warm. ❤️

  • @scottmcgonagle3102
    @scottmcgonagle3102 Жыл бұрын

    Thanks for your beautiful painting of the Cardinal! Red paint does cause some problems, but you did a masterful job!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Scott

  • @glendaconvery6832
    @glendaconvery6832 Жыл бұрын

    Thankyou so much for your tips on using red pigment. I enjoy all of your videos and always feel that I have learned from them. I ordered a couple of the eradicator brushes from Roemary and Co and I also use mine with pretty well every painting. They are so easy to use! Many thanks for all your videos last year and I look forward to seeing your next tutorial. Merry Christmas and happy New Year Louise

  • @fuzzydragons
    @fuzzydragons Жыл бұрын

    such a vibrant painting 😀

  • @pattycyr8662
    @pattycyr8662 Жыл бұрын

    Very pretty! Thanks for explaining everything so well. I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday.

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Patty. You too!

  • @debjanimukherjee6295
    @debjanimukherjee62958 ай бұрын

    Excellent painting ❤

  • @sonyaoart
    @sonyaoart Жыл бұрын

    I’ve painted a cardinal from the same reference photo at the beginning of the month. I want to paint it again and I’m glad I’ve got some pointers now how I can make it look better. Red really is tricky. Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Happy new year to you and your loved ones!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Sonya. You have a wonderful new year too!

  • @vee35233
    @vee35233 Жыл бұрын

    Dear Louise, just watched this beautiful Cardinal painting of yours - it is stunning! The cardinal on Patreon was lovely, but I think this one is better - thank you for showing your way of working with red paint. Hope you had a happy and blessed Christmas, and my very best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2023. Thank you warmly for your very hard work and your dedication during the entire 2022 - you are my painting lifeline and I appreciate every one of your stunning patreon tutorials. Love and blessings, Vee XXXXX

  • @GabrielleCarbonneau
    @GabrielleCarbonneau Жыл бұрын

    You really are amazing!!!

  • @karendirmish2696
    @karendirmish2696 Жыл бұрын

    Absolutely beautiful cardinal lesson! I’m hoping to try to recreate this later today! Your teaching method is true and makes me feel confident to try to recreate the Cardinal! Happy Holiday and looking foreword to a Healthy New Year. Karen Dirmish

  • @patspaulding7639
    @patspaulding7639 Жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas Louise. Thank you for your teaching expertise. Happy New Year!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Happy new year Pat. Thank you!

  • @rosemarymoore3142
    @rosemarymoore3142 Жыл бұрын

    You're so right red is so difficult to use,that video was very helpful, thank you.

  • @alexklimczak4622
    @alexklimczak4622 Жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Louise!!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Alex. Same to you!

  • @andreapaulis1481
    @andreapaulis1481 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your expertise on the red pigments. I am attempting a large single poinsettia and your information has helped me deal with the reds. Thanks again and have a wonderful holiday season and an excellent new year!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Andrea. Best wishes to you too.

  • @Linda-pg3so
    @Linda-pg3so Жыл бұрын

    Merry Christmas to you, Louise and your family🎄🤗. All the best for 2023.

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Happy new year Linda. Thank you!

  • @englishfive6985
    @englishfive6985 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for video🌺😊

  • @christinebaehr1953
    @christinebaehr1953 Жыл бұрын

    Very beautiful! I’m inspired to paint this tomorrow!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Have fun! Thank you Christine.

  • @Linda-pg3so
    @Linda-pg3so Жыл бұрын

    I'm the same with reds😳. Love this, Louise👌💖.

  • @brigitteitg
    @brigitteitg Жыл бұрын

    What a beautiful painting! Red suits you well 😊 Have a wonderful Christmas and and a great start into 2023!! 🎄🥂

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Brigitte. Best wishes to you too.

  • @MsMoniqueWilson
    @MsMoniqueWilson Жыл бұрын

    Love it. I too find red challenging. But you always make everything looks so effortless. Happy holidays and all the best for 2023 :)

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Monique. The same to you....best wishes. ❤️

  • @johnharkness6304
    @johnharkness6304 Жыл бұрын

    Gorgeous, happy Christmas Louise, to you and yours 🎅🌲

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you John. Best wishes to you too.

  • @isabelreyes8772
    @isabelreyes87729 ай бұрын

    Excelente trabajo, muchísimas gracias

  • @BoReads
    @BoReads Жыл бұрын

    I followed along with this turotial. Yours looks so good! Mine came out darker but I like it. :)

  • @glennmorrison7595
    @glennmorrison7595 Жыл бұрын

    I enjoyed watching you paint the Cardinal. I've enjoyed watching all of your videos. Merry Christmas from Alabama, USA. Dawn

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! You too Glenn.

  • @ashleyevans3330
    @ashleyevans3330 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful 😍 Merry Christmas!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Same to you Ashley. Thank you!

  • @LoriF25403
    @LoriF25403 Жыл бұрын

    That was lovely... It appears you have much more patience than me. Thank you for another great tutorial. Happy Holidays to you

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you! You too Lori.

  • @cris_ad
    @cris_ad Жыл бұрын

    I find that the wet on wet technique doesn't work very well with red. I work from a dry palette, I take the color and mix it with water in a porcelain mixing palette, and then start layering. So light layer, blend out, darker layer, blend out. And so on. This works very well for me but I also take hours and hours - one of my pieces of a human heart took 21 hours because of all the layering and waiting to dry! For me this is worth it because it creates a rich velvety look with intense even color. This cardinal is beautiful! I love this bright red and the way the the tail was painted. Edit: I also usually add a few drops of glycerin to my paint water. I also use a slightly firmer brush which doesn't hold as much water as it gives me more control.

  • @ronellevisser8214
    @ronellevisser8214 Жыл бұрын

    I follow your classes and enjoy it tremendously. I have joined Skillshare to be able to follow the the more detailed classes. When are you going to add a new class. Would love to see a new one!!!!

  • @amandastratton8242
    @amandastratton8242 Жыл бұрын

    A beautiful painting Louise, I would dearly love to see this bird in the flesh so to speak, they are so stunning. Thank you for sharing with us and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family xx

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Me too! Many thanks Amanda. Have a wonderful New Year.

  • @sherrikent6628
    @sherrikent6628 Жыл бұрын

    If you do a pale wash of yellow and let dry and then put the red on top it helps and leaves a glow.

  • @akhilaak3785
    @akhilaak3785 Жыл бұрын

    Lovely Happy New Year

  • @natlisan
    @natlisan Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful piece Louise! Have you tried using Quin red's instead?!

  • @2010ymg
    @2010ymg Жыл бұрын

    First, thank you so much for a year full of joy and creativity here and in Patreon! The mix of French Ultramarine and Crimson Lake is just perfect for the cardinal. Those tail feathers have peculiar hues in real life. I’ll try this combination with my second try of the other cardinal in Patreon. Best wishes from Canada.

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much Yolanda.

  • @akw6614
    @akw6614 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for detailed videos. I just started in watercolors, last time I painted anything was in high school, and that was a long long time ago. I have been watching your videos and all the great tips you have. I have done a couple of small paintings based on your videos, I will tag you on instagram.. again thank you so much for the tutorials and tips. Aditi

  • @joykruczay
    @joykruczay Жыл бұрын

    Looks just like the cardinals at my feeder! Apparently the -20 C temperature does not phase them! Masterful, as usual, and it does not seem as you have a "problem" with any color. Christmas and New Year blessing to you and yours. Questions: 1. What size eradicator brushes do use use? Perhaps that was a small? I am going to order from them shortly. 2. Since you mixed the gray, when do you choose to use the black paint over a mixed dark?

  • @Diane_McDon
    @Diane_McDon Жыл бұрын

    I have same issues with red, thank you

  • @mareni-zefir
    @mareni-zefir10 ай бұрын

  • @doumkatekz
    @doumkatekz Жыл бұрын

    what palette do you use? I keep running out of mixing area

  • @wendychampness1901
    @wendychampness1901 Жыл бұрын

    I am wondering about the comments about red being difficult. I haven’t used red very often. Are there red paints or other manufacturers which are easier to work with?

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    I'm not sure Wendy. I'd need to try a few other brands to find out.

  • @verone272
    @verone272 Жыл бұрын

    I was doing one of your tulip tutorial and it was the first time that I ever painted something in red and I did notice it was very messy 😱 Do you think that cooler reds are easier to paint with? 😊

  • @pamcausey8633
    @pamcausey8633 Жыл бұрын

    Louise I'm curious do you stand at a table and paint or sit ? I keep trying both can't decide which is better for steady hand. Merry Christmas to you also!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    I sit usually Pam. Thank you! Happy New Year!

  • @leahcalabro2787
    @leahcalabro2787 Жыл бұрын

    I have found violet to lift off the paper when a 2nd layer was applied, the same way you described red. Has this been your experience? @Louise De Masi ?🙂🌹

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    I don't remember that happening with violet Leah. Definitely with red though.

  • @ericakauffman5786
    @ericakauffman5786 Жыл бұрын

    I can't imagine you struggling with anything relating to watercolor! Red is a bit difficult because it is not soft or muted or it would be pinks. True red (warm or cool) is best done in few layers. I'm working on a poppy and only washed where cast shadows and petal ripples are.

  • @martinanelsonartandpsychol6478
    @martinanelsonartandpsychol6478 Жыл бұрын

    I find that reds (including cadmiums) never have a real gradation. Especially the warm ones have a strong mass-tone and then become light and faint pink and nearly nothing in between. Thank you for the lovely video.

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes! Very true. Thanks Martina.

  • @karlasanford293
    @karlasanford293 Жыл бұрын

    Hi Louise! Beautiful cardinal. Quick question....why did you stop using your round lazy susan palette?

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Karla, thank you! I don't use it when I'm filming because it's too big to fit under my magic arm. The magic arm that holds my phone for filming isn't tall enough and you can't see the palette properly.

  • @karlasanford293

    @karlasanford293

    Жыл бұрын

    @@LouiseDeMasi Hi Louise! Thank you for the explanation! I was wondering if you still liked it and used it. Have a great day!

  • @dharamvirsingh9551
    @dharamvirsingh9551 Жыл бұрын

    Magic in ur hand......it's proven

  • @tradingpostfarms
    @tradingpostfarms Жыл бұрын

    I was literally just attempting this earlier. It's not you. It has something to do with basically all true red pigments.

  • @wendychampness1901

    @wendychampness1901

    Жыл бұрын

    What brands have you tried? Just curious

  • @blackbearybears
    @blackbearybears Жыл бұрын

    I sent you a link (via your website) for paper board. I hope it’s what you’re looking for.

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks very much Johanna.

  • @beekayford
    @beekayford Жыл бұрын

    Is this a Patreon tutorial?

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    Hi Barbara, no it's not, I'm sorry. I didn't film all of it. It was just for KZread. When I painted it I had 7 Patreon tutorials waiting for me to voice over and I didn't want to add an 8th one.

  • @beekayford

    @beekayford

    Жыл бұрын

    Understandable! Just was wondering because I’m pretty dependent on the sketches (outlines). It’s beautiful. We just moved full-time to Washington State from Missouri. In Missouri we had so many cardinals in our back yard. We have none in Washington. So I’m drawn to cardinals paintings (I miss them so much)!

  • @LouiseDeMasi

    @LouiseDeMasi

    Жыл бұрын

    They are beautiful. I've never seen one in real life though. I can email you the line drawing if you want to try painting it.