Simple Watercolor Feathers To Paint Today, For Lag B’Omer!

Tonight we welcome the festive holiday of Lag B’Omer, so why not carve out a tiny window of time to paint some simple watercolor feathers? It is true Lag B’Omer generally brings to mind images of bonfires and bows and arrows, but I’d say feathers, which are used to write the Torah, and certainly the Zohar, originally, are a perfect symbol as well! Plus, feathers are just so fun to paint, and I ended up filling two pages in my watercolor journal with them, and can’t wait to paint more, next time in a mix of rainbow colors or pastels, we’ll just have to wait and see! If I had the time I’d paint some of these on watercolor paper and cut them out to hang anywhere, so lovely! Wishing everyone an amazing Lag B’Omer! Keep on reading for simple painting instructions!

You’ll Need:

• watercolors, whatever you have on hand, I’m treating myself to using this fun travel palette…..
• a pointed watercolor brush size 6, or a larger one and a smaller one
• a pencil, and watercolor paper or a watercolor paper sketchbook

Above: Painting before the recommended splatters

How To:

1. Draw feather shapes lightly on the paper, and possibly look at a photo of a feather to get it more or less right
2. Paint a first coat of very light blue and let it dry
3. Paint strokes of varying shades of blue over the initial layer, and then paint a dark blue/brown line down the center.
4. Add some delicate splatter by tapping a brush dipped in the paint over another pen, (held at a 90 degree angle to the brush) or hold the brush and tap it with the pen.
5. That is it, don’t fuss with it, let it dry and then see if it need more.

So much fun!
Don’t forget the splatter, it makes the piece come to life! I totally recommend painting with watercolors as it can be quick and with lovely results, try it!

Why Paint in A Sketchbook?

If you have read this far, and loved this idea, you may be one of those people who is not familiar with the idea of creating in a sketchbook. I mean really, why would you want your images trapped in a book, and what about all the pressure to create something great, and the restrictions based on the size of the sketchbook? I get it, this is exactly what I thought, once!

Today, while I have neglected a sketchbook practice altogether in the past year or two, I would love to get back to it as it is just so very wonderful to have a place to “practice” your art, have a record of your progress, and a place to create that is just for you. And if you just can’t handle having art you dont love in the sketchbook, so paint over it with gesso, or watercolor ground and create something new on that page!

A few tips to consider:

• watercolor painting must be done in a sketchbook made from watercolor paper

• drawing and painting with acrylic and mixed media is much more flexible, and pages of the sketchbook can always be prepared with a coat of gesso to make them stronger

• what size to start with? Hmmmm, a tough one, but if you travel you’ll certainly want a smallish size to take with you, and if you love acrylic painting then go big.

• if you create something you truly love, take a professional photo of it and print it on watercolor paper

• consider buying a travel sized watercolor palette like the one in the photos in this post, or something even smaller that you’ll fill up with watercolor paints from a tube

• don’t overthink it, just get started!