Tui in the Flax

by Linda Falkingham
(Sidney, BC Canada (sometimes NZ))

Tui in the Flax

This is an acrylic of a tui in the flax bushes outside our place in Waihi Beach New Zealand My brother in law loves these birds as they have a song that is wonderful to hear in the mornings. I wanted to do it for him as a thank you for the support that he gives me on my art when I'm here painting and taking classes.

I made a huge mistake (actually a couple) in doing this painting, first of all I did it on a canvas board but never painted on a plain white base of paint so the texture of the canvas showed through the paint. Next i made the mistake of not painting the background first, don't ask me what I was thinking I have no idea, other than that if my teacher Heidi here in NZ knew that she would rattle my chain.

It made it so much harder to paint the background in after the flax and the bird were done, then I had to go back and touch up all the spots that got painted over, as a matter of fact there's still one there, can you see it? After I did the background I realized that I had painted the green part much too dark and it took away from the bird and made it fade into the picture, so on advice from my favorite critic (Rod) who is my best supporter, I went back and made the green much lighter and I think it made all the difference.

I had problems with the eye as well, trying to just get it so that it looked like he was looking at you. I think I did it over at least a half a dozen times before i got it right. All in all this fellow took a lot longer than he should of, I think. But he's done and signed now!