I am trying to do a picture of a kingfisher in flight but I can't get the feathers to look realistic - it always ends up looking like a painting by numbers. Can anyone help. Do I do a wet on wet for the darker part of the wing where the bone structure is or do I do a wash and then paint in individual feather strokes?

Hi, I have done a kingfisher in wc, and had similar problems, why not try using watercolour pencils for the finer details, then if you need to use a very slightly damp brush to soften any lines that are too harsh. Have a go and let us know what happens.

:) Tracey

Hello to you both. I've just registered as a pro artist on the SAA site and have just picked up this issue. My main reputation is as a bird artist and I've developed a technique using a combination of airbrush and conventional paintbrush techniques. have a look at some of my work on http://www.birdingart.com/pages/thompson/carlthompson.html

I've found that the airbrush is fantastic at applying very fine transparent washes of colour, ideal for getting the lightness of feathers. I'll be demonstrating at the Wildlife Artist Society International annual exhibition at Nature in Art, Twigworth, Glouchester on 5th June. The Exhibition and ongoing demo is free. I'm also working on some instructional 'how to!' booklets for painting water, feathers, fur etc with an airbrush. Let me know if its something you would find interesting.