FREE Bee-Eater Project: Create Stunning Salt Effects in Watercolour

One of the questions I'm asked most often is how to create interesting backgrounds that support a wildlife subject without overwhelming it.

To help, I've just added a brand-new free tutorial to my Facebook community.

Earlier this month, I painted this little bee-eater as an exercise piece for my South African Art Retreat and filmed the entire process. In the tutorial, I'll show you how I used a simple four-colour palette, wet-on-dry watercolour techniques and one of my favourite tricks — salt — to create beautiful blossom-like textures and soft atmospheric effects in the background.

It's a simple technique that works brilliantly for birds, wildlife and nature subjects, adding interest and depth while keeping the focus exactly where it should be.

The full video tutorial is available free inside my Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/learnwatercolouranddrawing/

## Materials List

### Reference Materials

* Bee-eater reference photograph
* Finished painting reference (optional)

### Paper

* Watercolour paper, 300gsm or heavier
* Cotton paper recommended for best results

### Paints

* Winsor Lemon
* Permanent Rose
* Winsor Blue (Green Shade)
* Ivory Black

### Brushes

* Size 12 round watercolour brush

### Additional Materials

* Table salt (for texture effects)
* Clean water
* Kitchen roll or tissue
* Mixing palette or ceramic plate
* Water spray bottle (optional)

### Drawing Materials

* Pencil
* Putty rubber or soft eraser

For this little bee-eater, I kept the process deliberately simple, building the painting in just a couple of layers. I started by identifying the big shapes and tonal masses, resisting the temptation to focus on detail too early.

The first layers were applied wet on dry, concentrating on the cleanest, brightest colours first. Once those colours were established, I gradually introduced more neutral and desaturated mixtures to create depth, form and shadow.

Only once the larger shapes and colour relationships were working did I begin adding the darker accents and finer details. This approach helps maintain the freshness and vibrancy of the watercolour while ensuring the painting remains clear, expressive and full of light.

The branch was painted using a mixture of desaturated pinks, greys and muted neutrals, allowing the colours to remain harmonious with the bird while still providing contrast. Once the wash had reached the correct stage of dampness, I sprinkled table salt onto selected areas. As the paint dried, the salt created beautiful organic textures that help suggest the rough surface of the branch without the need for excessive detail. Timing is important with this technique — if the paper is too wet the effect will disappear, and if it's too dry the salt will have little impact.

The background was painted wet into wet, allowing the colours to blend softly and create an atmospheric backdrop without competing with the bee-eater. Before applying the paint, I used a fine mist of water to create an even surface, helping the washes flow smoothly and preventing unwanted hard edges.

Once the first layer had completely dried, I applied a second wet-into-wet wash to deepen the tone and increase the sense of depth. While this second layer was still damp, I sprinkled table salt onto selected areas. As the paint dried, the salt created beautiful organic textures and subtle blooms, adding interest and atmosphere to the background without distracting from the focal point of the painting.

Timing is important with this technique. If the paper is too wet, the salt effect will be weak, and if the paper is too dry, very little will happen. Applying the salt when the sheen has just started to disappear produces the strongest and most interesting textures.

This free process video is available to members of my Facebook community, where you'll find regular tutorials, live sessions, painting tips and a friendly group of artists learning together.
Come and join us here:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/learnwatercolouranddrawing/

I’d love to see your paintings and hear how you get on with the project. Happy painting! 🎨🐦