The Sparrow’s Song: A Whimsical Love Birds Watercolor Tutorial

This week’s beginner watercolor tutorial is a pair of sweet little love birds sitting together on a branch, surrounded by early fall leaves, berries, a flower, and a couple of little hearts.

And while I was painting them, I found myself thinking about a little bird I hadn’t thought about in a long time.

My first real pet was a parakeet named Birdy. I got him when I was about twelve, and he was all mine.

I trained him to sit on the kitchen table with me while I ate breakfast, and he’d take little pieces of toast right from my fingers. His cage sat near a window, and somewhere along the way, he learned to imitate the sparrows he heard singing outside.

They would sing, and Birdy would answer them.

The Sparrow’s Song

When I decided to paint two little sparrows for the first project in our Fall Collection, those memories came right back - the kitchen table, the toast crumbs, Birdy sitting beside me, and the sparrows outside the window.

I never taught him their song. He simply listened to them often enough that one day he started singing it back.

I hated leaving Birdy when I went away to college, although my mom took good care of him for me. Eventually, those mornings became one of those childhood memories tucked away somewhere in the back of my mind.

Until I picked up my paintbrush and started painting birds.

It’s funny how making something can do that.

A color, a subject, or even a little bird can unexpectedly open a door to somewhere we haven’t visited in years.

This week, I’m painting the sparrows Birdy used to answer.

Painting With Our New September Song Palette

This is the first painting in our new Fall Collection, which means we're also beginning with a brand-new five-color seasonal palette.

For this issue, I'm calling it September Song:

• Sunlit Gold - Hansa Yellow Light

• Rust Orchard - Transparent Red Oxide

• Fallen Bark - Raw Umber

• Evergreen Hush - Sap Green

• Dusty Bloom - Quinacridone Rose

These are all Daniel Smith professional watercolor paints, but you absolutely don't need these exact paints to follow along. Look through the watercolors you already have and choose similar shades.

One of my favorite mixtures in this painting is the soft warm color on the birds' breasts. I make it with Sunlit Gold, just a tiny touch of Fallen Bark, and plenty of water.

Remember to start with the lighter color and add the darker color gradually. It takes very little brown to change a yellow mixture, so sneak up on it!

And don't worry about matching my colors exactly. Your birds don't have to look exactly like mine to belong in our Fall Collection.

An Easy Watercolor Bird Project for Beginners

If you're new to watercolor, these little birds are made from fairly simple shapes, and I've included a traceable outline in the YouTube video description so you don't have to worry about drawing them yourself.

We'll start by lightly tracing or sketching the design onto watercolor paper. Then we'll paint the birds, branch, leaves, berries, and flower using our five fall colors.

Once the watercolor is dry, we'll add a few finishing details with fine-tip pens.

And these aren't meant to be realistic, scientifically accurate sparrows. They're whimsical little love birds.

They can be a little rounder than real sparrows. Their wings don't have to match. Your branch can be crooked, your leaves can be wonky, and your hearts definitely don't have to be symmetrical.

That's part of what gives them their storybook feeling.

Watch the full Love Birds watercolor tutorial on YouTube:

A Little Creative Choice

Something interesting happened while I was painting this project.

At one point, my birds were fairly simple. They had their basic colors and markings, and I could have stopped right there.

But I kept going.

I added more feather lines and embellishments to their bodies, and when I looked at the two versions afterward, I realized something:

I actually liked the simpler birds better.

So instead of pretending otherwise, I left both options in the tutorial.

Partway through the video, I'll show you the simpler version. If you love your birds at that point, you can stop. Or, if you'd like more texture and detail, keep painting with me and I'll show you what I added.

There isn't a right choice.

Sometimes adding another detail improves a painting. Sometimes the thing that makes it work is knowing when you've already added enough.

I'm learning to pay more attention to that in my own painting, too.

A Little Creative Heart Practice

Maybe that's a good thing to practice this week - not just while we're painting, but while we're creating anything.

Before you add one more line, one more color, or one more detail, stop for a moment and look at what you've already made.

Do you actually want to change it?

Or do you already like it?

For this week's Creative Heart Practice:

Today I trust myself to know when enough is enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Love Birds watercolor tutorial suitable for beginners?

Yes. This project was designed to be beginner-friendly. The birds are made from simple shapes, and the painting is intentionally whimsical rather than realistic. You can also use the traceable outline if you aren't comfortable drawing the birds yourself.

What watercolor colors do I need for this project?

I'm using our new five-color September Song palette: Sunlit Gold, Rust Orchard, Fallen Bark, Evergreen Hush, and Dusty Bloom. My paints are Daniel Smith watercolors, but you don't need the exact colors or brand. Choose similar yellow, warm rust, brown, green, and rose shades from the paints you already have.

How do I mix the light warm color for the birds?

Start with Sunlit Gold and add a very small amount of Fallen Bark, then dilute the mixture with plenty of water. Add the brown gradually so the mixture stays light and warm rather than becoming too dark.

Do I need to draw the birds myself?

No. I've provided a traceable outline that you can transfer lightly onto your watercolor paper before you begin. If you enjoy drawing, you can also use the pattern as a reference and sketch your own birds.

Do I have to add all the feather details?

Not at all. In fact, I prefer the simpler version of my own birds! During the tutorial, I'll show you where you can stop if you like the simpler look. If you'd like more detail and texture, you can continue along with me and add the extra feather markings.

How do I keep whimsical watercolor from becoming too detailed?

Try stepping away from your painting for a moment before adding more marks. Look at the overall shapes, colors, and feeling of the piece. If it already says what you want it to say, you may not need more detail. Whimsical paintings often get much of their charm from simple shapes and slightly imperfect details.

What kind of watercolor paper should a beginner use?

Use paper specifically made for watercolor so it can handle the water without breaking down like ordinary drawing or printer paper. You don't need expensive professional paper for this project. I'm painting this week's project on watercolor card paper, but other watercolor paper will work too.

Can I change the colors or details in my Love Birds painting?

Absolutely. Change the flower, use different berries, move the hearts, or paint your birds in colors you love. The tracing pattern and tutorial are a starting point, not a set of rules.

Where can I watch the full beginner watercolor tutorial?

The complete step-by-step Love Birds watercolor tutorial is available on my YouTube channel at Mind Your Heart Studio. You can paint along from the initial tracing through the watercolor layers and final pen details.

Come Paint With Me

If you've been feeling that little pull to make something with your own hands, I'd love to have you join me.

The Creative Heart Journal arrives free every Friday with a simple watercolor project, seasonal color palette, and a little creative encouragement for your week. Sign up now to get a bonus free beginner tutorial - a Whimsical Bird Trio project.

Join the Creative Heart Journal

And if you'd rather paint together, you can also join me for my free monthly live watercolor class. No experience necessary - just bring your paints and come create with us.

Join the Next Free Painting Class

Hello, Fall Collection

These two little birds are the first painting in our new Fall Collection.

Our bright summer colors have given way to the warmer shades of September Song, and over the next several weeks we'll be painting pumpkins, sunflowers, fall leaves, and a few whimsical little places that I hope feel like somewhere you'd like to wander into for a while.

It feels good to be back at my own kitchen table after traveling, paintbrush in hand, beginning a new season.

And I like that we're starting it with two little sparrows and a memory I hadn't thought about in years.

I'll be back next week with another simple fall painting for us to make together.

Until then, pick up your brush, make a little room at the kitchen table, and paint something that makes you happy.

With heart and color,
Donna