Bird Paintings by Frances McMahon (video 1)

[530hzt]

cool

[UberawesomeKman]

Seriously beautiful!!

[didikjes]

I was realy amazed, see you paintings. PLease keep it up.

[pinchosalcarbon]

is this oil or acrylic paint? its beautiful

[GlitteringGirl65]

@pinchosalcarbon Thanks for the lovely compliment! The backgrounds are airbrushed in liquid acrylic (more durable and waterproof than ink), and the birds and foregrounds are watercolour. :)

[NtEMegathon]

Wow!

[KarenIsNew]

Simply breath taking!

[nuvi01]

This is beautiful.You are very talented.Do you teach? I also love the music can you please tel us who's music is this who is the composer ( I know it but don't know by whom ) and who is it preformed by I love it.

Thank you for sharing..

[GlitteringGirl65]

@nuvi01 So glad you like it! Thanks! No, I don't teach...not enough hours in the day. If I did teach, there would be no time for doing my own painting. The background music is from YouTube's "stock" music that's copyright free. It's from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" , but I don't know which season it is!

[locoyo386]

@GlitteringGirl65 I do believe it's Winter, and very nice work, very realistic.

[MrWatercolorguy]

Wow! How do you get such vibrant color?

Absolutely beautiful work, and done so well.

I've been painting for close to fifty years, and have never been able to get such colors! Are you using the quinacridones?

Great work!

[GlitteringGirl65]

@MrWatercolorguy So glad you like it. Many thanks! I only use quin. red as my blue-based red. Cadmium Red and Yellow are keepers, too! I find Cerulean Blue a bit "wimpy", so I use Pthalo Blue instead. And replace muddy Yellow Ochre with Raw Sienna! The key to getting intense colour is to multi-layer the paint. It can take quite a few layers (up to 10!), but you'll get more depth. Sometimes I use a touch of gouache, but it needs to be diluted before use, otherwise it goes opaque. Good luck!

[paulamalves]

is so beautiful.... i am so happy to see this paintings.... thank you for be a wonderful artist... keep your hard work.... beautiful, beautiful ll.... i love it

[blondydownunder]

Bravo!!! :-)

[Startwister]

This is awesome. They all look so real! I have to say, I never have seen something similar. Makes me look like a bloody amateur.

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks for the lovely compliment! Having a top quality airbrush makes getting the out-of-focus backgrounds much easier. And I bet your artworks aren't "amateur" at all! I read in a very good book that it's difficult to determine the value of our own works, and whether they are "good" or not. Best to let others determine that.... Keep up the painting. It takes lots of practice, but stick at it. Good luck :)

[Startwister]

@GlitteringGirl65 Of course you´re right, the artist himself is the worst jugde about his or her own work. But in comparence to yours, mine is really crude. I never have the patience to put so much details in my paintings. In the first video, I made for YT (doesn´t exist anymore), the painting was finished in 9 and a half minutes That´s still a record. I don´t put too much time and effort in my stuff.

[spitharoo]

At first I thought I was looking at photographs. Fantastic paintings.

[dianekeys]

Stunning work. I really enjoyed the video. It is a rainy day here in California and the backyard birds are in hiding....your art brings them all home. Thank you

[AlwaysHappyyyy]

It is Amazinggggggg ......!!!



[bytonynguyen]

It is absolute amazing!!

[MarsFranke]

These are fotos, right? ...I can't believe these are watercolours!

It is absolute amazing!!

(I guess the 2 thumbs down klicked accidently on it...)

[Candeekissez]

You mention you first put down an acrylic background by airbrushing. Do you mask out the places where the birds and trees and other foreground watercolor will go or do you just paint right over the acrylic with the watercolor?

Your colors are amazing, I envy your talent. I have been painting for several years but want to be as good as you whenever I do something and when the painting looks amaturish, I get discouraged and stop painting? Any tips? Thank you for sharing your amazing work.

[GlitteringGirl65]

@Candeekissez Thanks for the lovely comments! The birds are masked out before airbrushing. Watercolour is transparent, so it would be nearly impossible to paint over any acrylic, as it depends on using the white of the paper. Hey, don't get discouraged. I've been painting for some 40 years, so I've had plenty of time to practice (and make errors!). Keep at it. It will be worth it in the end. There are plenty of good teachers around who can give you great ideas and pointers. Best of luck!

[formigasL483]

you did that whit watercolors???? :O so gooD

[ATH1pro]

whats name of this song?

[freeartlessonslive]

Thank you for your response and advice.

[freeartlessonslive]

Fabulous paintings of birds. As a bird lover, I would love to be able to paint them. Could you please do a tutorial on how you paint feathers.

[GlitteringGirl65]

@freeartlessonslive Thanks so much for the lovely compliment! Because the work is so incredibly time-consuming, a tutorial would be very boring to watch, and I'd need an extreme close-up lens to show how it's done. The technique is actually pretty simple....I start with a pale wash of the desired colour, then, using a very fine brush, paint hairline strokes over the wash with a darker shade. Keep building layer over layer this way, until the form starts to take shape. Best of luck with it all...

[TheDecoyDude]

@GlitteringGirl65 you are incredible! what medium is this? Watercolor? any preferred brand? i cannot tell you enough how amazing this is!

[GlitteringGirl65]

@TheDecoyDude Thanks for the lovely compliment. Yes, these paintings are done in watercolour. The backgrounds are airbrushed in liquid acrylic. I find the acrylic is "tougher" than watercolour, and is waterproof! I only use Winsor and Newton Series 7 Brushes, and I prefer the W and N half pan size watercolour. I only use artist quality paints, and ensure they are rated I or II in lightfastness. It would be a disaster to spend 150 hours on a painting, only to have it fade in a few years!

[freeartlessonslive]

Fabulous paintings of birds. As a bird lover, I would love to be able to paint them.

[settemesi]

magic:)

[OrioleBeagle]

Your artwork is gorgeous!

[gingersaskatoon]

Very beautiful, stunning...the best i've ever seen!

[ozjaybabe]

...and thank you for sharing. Beautiful work....love the light and life you've captured. Our Aussie birds never looked finer.

[Baslouqit]

Magnifique et divin! Never seen such beautiful birds and leafs in paintings, you are really gifted, thanks for sharing the beauty that emerges from your brushes!!

[labellavitakurz]

What is the name of the song you used? Very nice paintings!

[GlitteringGirl65]

@labellavitakurz So glad you like my work! The background music is from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons". I originally used another Vivaldi piece, but YouTube sent me a message saying it was infringing copyright, so I used one of YouTube's copyright free music choices. Luckily Vivaldi was among those! :)

[labellavitakurz]

What is the name of the song you used? Very nice paintings!

[nena45pc]

wow , realy beutifull, I t look like photografy, bravo,

[ximbixill]

omg ... it's... amazing O.O

[katherinecat09111]

this is awesome artistic most perfect thing in this world @konotori7 is right so i have to follow her dreams :)

[librielle]

Magnifique !

[bmbers]

more than perfect.

[MustaffaCuppa]

Absolutely stunningly lifelike. Beautiful. Thank you. Enjoyed the music too.

[enigmusII]

anybody can tell me what is the name of the background music?

[lathadamle]

Amazing. Incredible work. Your paintings belittle the best of comments. No words. Keep up the good work. God bless. May you get the best of recognition for your works.

[bmbers]

wow! i´m just starting in watercolor technique ... what do you paint first the background? gracias.

[DiamondApple100]

THIS IS AMAZING! WOW! How do you even come close to such DETAIL! it seems almost impossible! Can you show us a sall tutorial how how you paint !

THAKS

[Konotori7]

has anyone from the Audobon Society contacted you yet? Stupendous. Intimidating. I think I should start practicing one feather at a time, one leaf at a time. Much easier to sit back and listen to Vivaldi. Stunning.

[GlitteringGirl65]

@Konotori7

Thanks so much for the wonderful feedback! I'm extremely flattered.

As an Aussie artist, it's unlikely I'll be contacted by the Audobon Society, but I'm really too busy to join any groups these days. Currently working on a commission for the Botanic Gardens, painting every species found there! And, yes, it is being completed one feather at a time, while listeneing to Vivaldi!

[heidlor]

wunderschön

[gitane060]

merveilleux

[ggutierrez09]

they look so real.wow

[anniejlemay]

Wow, amazing work.

[toomuchnatureforme]

hehe i told you to be afraid!

[toomuchnatureforme]

woha cool didnt know with the new youtube stuff you could add contuis comments...... be afraid.. very afraid

[toomuchnatureforme]

WOAH in first picture it looked like a picture cause U made the blurry backround LOL awe$ome!

[malli2001]

excellent work. the birds look real with life. I simply enjoyed viewing it more than once.

[NoctuaYume]

They are gorgeous, wow... so much detail. I love those blue-face parrots, I've hold and studied many of them. In your paintings, it's as if they're sitting right in front of me. Great paintings.

[DiamondApple100]

NICE NICE NICE

love the detailll~!

[CSheri2]

BRAVO!

[shamailkts]

what a gift you have got

[tdartista48]

You did an extraordinary work on the birds. Very impressive.

[tommyg794]

incredible talent, world class, well done.

[aungkyawtun92]

Lol, the best bird water colour painting i have ever seen !!!!

[parandehdarya]

wow!

[AmurgAprins]

Probably the best bird paintings i have ever seen in watercolor,amazing work.

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks so much for your kind words! Makes all the hard work worthwhile....

[plumsforeveryone]

very realistic magnificent job

[plumsforeveryone]

great paintings

[shyguek]

What beautiful work! You have a impressive gift!

Congratulations!

Shyguek

[dipchips]

Simply Superb !!

[monicadalincourt]

awesome

[kaylsypoo]

wow thats really impressive! very talented!

[bublmidget]

Those are incredible! I love the finches. They are so cute. I used to have finches as pets, not that kind, but i guess a plainer kind. I loved them though, they're so cute and lively.

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks so much, bublmidget! Finches do make lovely pets, but species like the gouldian finch (as I've painted) can be a bit delicate. They like warm and temperate conditions, and live food, which means harvesting maggots and worms for them to eat....yuck!

Zebra finches are easy to keep though. I like their personalities more than budgies.

[Lexiie96]

FABOULOUS.

Frances you are a great artist you should take it somewhere. you could become famous.

:D

Alexis Kooyman

[GlitteringGirl65]

Hi Alexis! I didn't know you were on YouTube!

Thanks so much for the compliment! If only I found skating as easy as painting...lol! Not interested in "fame", though - just enjoying creating paintings for others to enjoy.....

[Lexiie96]

Yeah. i have YouTube.

Thats true. You still are a very good ice skater!

Oh well! atleast your making others happy.

[loveyoutodeathbut]

Your work is extraordinary.

[sleepingTitania]

Exquisite!

[raygao2000]

I had tried to reach you three times but all e-mails were not go-through. I had some designs of trays and scarves at web site used my own images from Gao Gao Gallery.

I hope to get a permission to incorporate one of your birds image in to create a new design for either scarf or tray. And we can discuss how to share royalty with you, if the new image can be commercialized.

Please give me a reply even if that is a negative response.

Your arts are highly admired by me.

Best regards. Johnson Gao

[raygao2000]

I had tried to reach you three times but all e-mails were not go-through. I had some designs of trays and scarves at web site used my own images from Gao Gao Gallery.

I hope to get a permission to incorporate one of your birds image in to create a new design for either scarf or tray. And we can discuss how to share royalty with you, if the new image can be commercialized.

Please give me a reply even if that is a negative response.

Your arts are highly admired by me.

Best regards. Johnson Gao

[PCrisLS]

Beautiful work.

[hypereactiveGBU15]

AWESOME TALENT!! You said you were self-taught right? If you don't mind... may i please ask what your resources are? maybe books or websites?

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks for the compliment, hyperactiveGBU15!

As a child, I would just copy off other artists' work and photos out of books. A great way to learn, but once you start selling works, you must be aware of copyright laws, so I use my own photos as reference, while some of the grasses/rocks/leaves are painted from life. It feels much better creating a painting from your own references, as it is yours and yours alone, and you hold copyright over it!

[JohannesKapsberger]

Incredible!!

Like photographies!

[wsoxman]

Your talent is "Museum" quality. I have done water colors on and off, for about 25 years. I love detail, but the key is to NOT make the painting look like a muddy rendering. Many water color artists have works best viewed from 10 feet away. Have you painted old sailing (out riggers) ships? Now that is "detail" .

[wsoxman]

Ok, is this water colors or Oil?

[GlitteringGirl65]

Hi wsoxman,

I always paint in watercolour, as I find you get the most detail with it. For more info, just click on "more info" under my user name on this page.

[k9henrydog]

Incredible, extraordinary work!! An Australian "Audobon"!! Looking forward to more.......delightful presentation as well...best wishes

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks k9, I'm very flattered to be compared to the great Audobon, and just as flattered that you have subscribed to my videos!

My new year's resolution is to get "stuck into" more artworks...I've been a bit slack lately.

[k9henrydog]

Yes, you certainly must answer your 'calling'! Takes a long time to build up a significant body of good works.....so keep at it.....for all of us! Such a gift, use it well!

[gypsylor]

damn!!!!!!!!!!! At first it looks like a pfotograph! Beautiful work!

[rebeccalatham]

You've done a beautiful job! ...what lovely color!

[dc9761]

Do you paint back ground first? Or do you paint birds first? do you ever yous airbrush. Just love your work so much. Aloha from Hawaii

[GlitteringGirl65]

So glad you like my work! Makes all the long hours worth it!

After masking the birds, I always airbrush the background first. This way, if I make an error with the background, I haven't lost hours and hours of work. I can simply lift off the mask, place it on another piece of board, and start again.

[psychodelicdragon]

this is wonderful avian art, do you paint on paper or canvas? i know that watercolor can be applied to either. do you offer them to people in the us? good luck at both of your talents

[GlitteringGirl65]

So glad you like the paintings! I paint on 1680gsm conservation board. It's made by Canson, and is the most archival material I can find. It's the same material they use as matting when framing old/valuable artworks for museums. I've sold a few paintings to clients in the USA, on a commissioned basis. Seems folks overseas love our gorgeous native birds! :)

[gsdrafter]

WOW!!! You are so talented!! Your paintings are so perfect!! WELL DONE!!

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks...you're very kind!

[Rottolescatole]

You're such a gifted person, your talent is amazing! Your art is so perfect, just like a picture!

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thank you! :)

[PARADISEDOVE]

Very extraordinary blessed talent artist! 

I believe your art in Eph. 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

I enjoy it so much & love arts.

Keep your art alive! =D

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks so much for the kind words, paradisedove! I believe God gives us all a special talent...the trick is to find out just what ours is!

[SantaBarbaraDianne]

Those are incredible paintings. The effort put into getting all the details has to have been intense----far greater than I have the patience for. Keep up the great work!!

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks Dianne! Yes, painting these is an intense workout for the mind, but I just work on them a few hours a day...

[morgail]

Wow! Those are beautiful. The details are just incredible.

[GlitteringGirl65]

So glad you like them! There is nothing like watercolour for detail. Although it's a difficult medium, as it's basically non-correctable. After all this time, I'm still learning new things about it and loving it as much.

[schaatsmetliefde]

You made those? WOW!

[GlitteringGirl65]

Sure did!

[RBCI]

Those are absolutely marvelous!

You are VERY, VERY talented!

[GlitteringGirl65]

Thanks for the compliment! If only I found skating as natural and easy to do, lol!