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How to Paint a Fall Chicken

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How to Paint a Fall Chicken
Hand Painted Chicken Flower Pot

Have you ever tried to paint a fall chicken? Chickens are great subjects anytime of year, and definitely one of my favorite creatures to draw and paint.

*There are numerous cultural references to chickens in myth, folklore, and religion, in language, and in literature.

*Roosters are common subjects of traditional Polish Folk Art.

*Chickens are referenced in Smithsonian Magazine’s “How the Chicken Conquered the World” Article.

*”Chickens in Art History,” published in Painter’s World Magazine, is also an interesting read.

My chicken happens to be a hen. Read on to join the ranks of the many artists, cartoonists, decorative painters, and poets who have attempted to capture the likeness of this domestic diva.

Supplies Needed to Paint a Fall Chicken

  • brushes- 1/2″ angle, liner
  • paints- acrylic Dark Brown, Light Brown, Black, White, Yellow, Blue, Light Blue, and Red (you can mix your own colors).
  • painting surface- I used a painted 8″ terra cotta flower pot
  • graphite paper, a pencil, and a photograph of a chicken sized for your surface
  • Liquitex Satin Varnish will seal most surfaces
First, trace your chicken pattern onto the preferred surface. I used an 8″ painted terra cotta flower pot, a pencil, and some black graphite paper.
Paint the hen’s body Light Brown, then paint her face and waddle with Red and White. I used a 1/2″ angle for the hen’s feathers and body, and a liner brush for the detail work.
Mix Dark Brown and Yellow for the feathers on the back, then fill in the front of the neck with Black, Blue, and Yellow.
Paint the pupil with Black, then highlight the face with White. The beak is a mixture of Red, Light Brown, and White. Swish in some Light Blue to highlight the feathers at the bottom.
Paint the back tail plumage with a mixture of Yellow and Brown. Use Light Brown for the feathers closest to the hen’s body. Use Black and the liner brush to outline all of the feathers.

Wasn’t that easy? I hope you enjoyed How to Paint a Fall Chicken! Don’t forget to seal your project with two coats of Liquitex Satin Varnish.

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Comments

    • Kristie Schubert says

      Thanks, Julie! I’ll be popping in to your party tonight. I can’t wait to see what the makers are creating for the holidays.

      Reply

    • Kristie Schubert says

      Thank you, Beth! I am honored, and will be popping in on Wednesday to see the other fabulous features.

      Reply

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