Photo: Pileated Woodpecker, Anne Bielamowicz/NVBA Photo Contest
When: Thursday, March 19, 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Virtual
Members: $22
Non-members: $33
*This is a digital art class.
In this class, students will paint NVBA's Bird of the Year: The Pileated Woodpecker! This species is a remarkable deep forest dweller, boasts a striking flaming red crest and a boisterous call! Your instructor, Ronna Fujisawa will be your guide through the step-by-step process of painting. She is an avid bird watercolor artist residing in Portland, Oregon. Salt Water Art is her educational practice consisting of classes on how to paint birds and other watercolor workshops.
This is an online class open to all levels of watercolor painters. Beginners are welcome!
Course Materials:
In this class, students will master the art of painting intricate details and practicing loose brushstrokes. To create a deep, dark green background, patience and the layering of translucent colors are essential. Ronna will guide you through the process of basic watercolor techniques, transforming this fun, animated bird into a vibrant masterpiece on your painting!
Below is the photo we will be painting. Please print it out in color to have as reference in class or look at image on a tablet.
Due to time constraints, we ask that you have the drawing done on watercolor paper in pencil or traced with graphite transfer paper. Ronna will be painting on a 12x12” Arches 140lb cold press paper.
The recommended colors are below. If you don’t have all these, you can try with what you do have.
Colors: Cobalt Blue, Cadmium Red Light or similar, Burnt Sienna, Paynes Gray, Naples Yellow, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade for dark green background) or Sap Green
Please have some various round brushes #2,6,8,10, size to fit the size of the feathers and smaller ones for detail, and a larger wash brush for the background like a 1” or 3/4” Oval Wash (cat’s tongue).
Learn more about our subject: Woodpeckers are part of the order Piciformes, making them related to toucans, honeyguides, puffbirds, and jacamars. Built for climbing, drumming, and flying, woodpecker anatomy has some incredibly interesting features; including stiff tail feathers to help them brace against vertical surfaces! A beloved native species to Northern Virginia, the Pileated Woodpecker has served as the NVBA’s mascot and has appeared in several variations of the chapter's logo. Just as Pileated Woodpeckers carve out nesting cavities that support countless other species, NVBA hopes to create opportunities for the communities we serve to connect, grow, and thrive together. Watch our recent webinar on woodpeckers, where local bird guide Matt Felperin explores their anatomy and shares tips for identifying species you can expect to find here in Virginia!
NVBA Webinar Policies
This online course is availbe at a discounted rate for all NVBA members. To learn more about our chapter membership click here and consider joining our flock today!
All participants must register through Eventbrite to receive the Zoom link to attend this program. This event will be recorded and the recording will be shared with those who registered.
Questions may be directed to NVBA’s Community Engagement Coordinator, McKenzie, at mckenzie@nvbirdalliance.org.