Paint an Impressionist Pelican in Acrylics

I am teaching at a school that offers art for seniors. Every so often, the pupils will dump their canvasses in the rubbish. When I see these, I immediately retrieve and recover them. Today's pelican was painted on one of these retrieved canvasses. I show you step by step how to go about painting the pelican yourself.

So, this is the canvas I retrieved from the rubbish area.

A couple of layers of gesso managed to cover up most of the paint.

I started with Payne's Grey and a large palette knife.

The painted was plastered onto the canvas randomly.

Then I moved on to Titanium White.

I did pretty much the same thing with the white.

I then used Buff Titanium.

This was also plastered all over the canvas.

Then I used Dioxazine Purple.

I used a brush to paint the edges of the canvas.

I used the palette knife to plaster the canvas with the purple.

I then added Sky Blue.

Then I added a warm red.

A very warm yellow was added.

Then I added a brilliant green.

Then I dropped Dioxazine Purple and Payne's Grey onto the canvas and mixed the two on the canvas, covering most of it.

I added Sky Blue, but this time I used my fingers to blend the colours, working in opposite directions from what I have been doing with the palette knife.

I add Ultramarine Blue, and this I also blend with the fingers.

I then wait for the paint to become touch dry, before I draw the outline of the pelican in charcoal.

I use a soft brush to paint the pelican in Titanium White in a very uneven manner, allowing the background colours to shine through.

I add very pale blue to the pelican.

Then I add a very dark Prussian Blue.

I then add a mid-range blue.

Then I add Payne's grey, but this time I use a palette knife.

I use a Fan brush to add Titanium White to the pelican.

Then I add Burnt Umber. I only touch the pelican with this colour, restricting its use mainly to the pole the bird is balancing on.

A very bright orange is used on the beak.

I use a fine brush to add detail to the eye. I also use the same brush to sign my name.

The finished painting.

You can watch a compilation video of the steps shared above, on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/1OKvGzWRYSw

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
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