Kimberly Wurster
Oregon, USA, Between Flights, watercolor, 12 x 9" (30 x 23 cm)
My Inspiration
Nature, in general, is my inspiration but birds in particular hold a special place in my heart. The sound of birdsong never fails to capture my attention and lift my spirits. Light, as it defines form and creates atmosphere, is also very inspiring to me and I find myself often drawn to simple subjects in unusual lighting. Occasionally, an object that I’ve not noticed before suddenly becomes fascinating because a perfect ray of sunshine has brought it to my attention. I enjoy the challenge of creating the illusion of three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface, painting feathers that look as if they might move if touched. I find the rendering of habitat most enjoyable as well.
My Design Strategy
I loved the concept of this bird on the fence, poised and ready to continue her flight. I quickly snapped several photos of her and the surrounding area before she flew away and before the light changed. I made sketches of the grasses, seed heads and blooming radish because I love to show birds in their habitat. To adjust the focus on the various objects, I paid special attention to edge control in order to create believable depth. Lacking an obvious background, I felt that different textures, levels of focus and overlapping objects would move the eye around the painting and create the three dimensionality I envisioned. I felt that the fence provided a wonderful framework for my idea.
My Working Process
I began this painting with two thumbnails to check values and the relationship of the shapes. I then drew a detailed image, scanned it into my computer, enlarged it and printed it to scale. Using tracing paper and Saral graphite paper, I transferred my drawing to Arches 140-pound cold press paper, thus drawing the image only once to conserve my energy for the painting. I used a very limited palette to create and maintain color harmony throughout this piece. Using pastel pencils and sticks, I created the foreground radish and seed heads, blending with my finger to let the wire show through in places. More detail was used in various areas to lead the eye through the painting and back to the bird.
Contact Details
» Email: kimberly@kimberlywurster.com
» Website: www.kimberlywurster.com