Let me show you how to paint a rooster in watercolour… then you can tell me if it lifts your mood!
But really, I know the answer already. Choosing your painting subject can really change your painting experience.
Want to feel calm and relaxed? Try painting a few skies…. Or perhaps a calm sea.
Want to smile and feel the energetic light hearted side of life? Paint a chicken!
If you are feeling a bit down, there is nothing like a bit of painting to lift your mood. It is hard not to smile when you are playing with the rainbow in your paintbox.
And it’s not just the tactile play or the colour therapy that is helpful. Spend some time making close observations of the things you love enough to want to paint and you are appreciating the little things in life.
Appreciation is like gratitude.
It just makes things feel inexplicably better.
Rainbow Roosters no 9 - Follow the Leader (Watercolour on Paper 8"x 10")
I love the colour and movement of the happy little bird. You won’t believe how many different colours you will see in what at first glance appears to be a brownish bird.
Rainbow Roosters no 7 - Proud (Watercolour on Paper 8"x 10")
I got rather carried away with this idea of colour - that’s another thing I love about painting - the license to let your imagination run wild.
What if….. What if…
What if a chicken were pink and purple….
Rainbow Roosters no 5 - What if Roosters were Purple (Watercolour on Paper 8"x 10")
Aside from the glorious colour options, the other thing that is tremendous fun is painting the texture of those different feathers. So much texture too. Proud stance and alert eye.
What’s not to love?
One of the things that always strikes me about painting animals is how present they are. Here and now. Focused on what they are doing and nothing else. (Well, one presumes, of course but that is how it seems to me).
Rainbow Roosters no 2 - Good Clean Dirt (Watercolour on Paper 8"x 10")
The easiest way I have ever found to practice this mindfulness is painting. Allowing yourself to become absorbed in examining your favourite painting subjects and playing with brushes and colour is effortless.
If you haven’t experienced it for yourself, I really hope you give yourself the chance. I’ve even come up with a way to take out all the planning and preparation for you.
Learn how to paint a rooster or two in juicy watercolour with step by step online tutorials.
You don’t even have to worry about the drawing part - I did that for you.
It’s almost like paint by numbers - so much fun!
I painted lots of these little guys - it’s a bit addictive - seems only fair to warn you.
I do love a single happy little rooster on a clean white page. I found myself trying out all sorts of colours to dress him in.
And then I remembered what fun things there are to paint in the chicken’s environment.
Rainbow Roosters no 4 - Stone Wall (Watercolour on Paper 8"x 10")
Abstract dirt and foliage…. Stone walls and wooden fences.
Marvellous everyday things.
They seem to know a thing or two about living, these chickens….
Rainbow Roosters no 8 - Morning Chat (Watercolour on Paper 8"x 10")
Rise with the sun, set about finding something tasty to eat and have a good chat with the rest of the gang.
Not much else matters.
Sounds like a good recipe for life, now doesn’t it?
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