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Step 2 – Wet the Body

Using a watery, feint, yellow ochre , lightly dampen the paper.  You're just tentatively mapping out the shape of the hen 
 

Avoid soaking the paper. You want a soft sheen, the water should not be rolling around on the paper.
 

Leave the head mostly clear of paint for now

 

While still slightly damp, drop in stronger pigment:
 

• some burnt sienna, starting a 1/3 way down the body 

• now drop in some burnt umber around the bottom of the belly and let it spread up

• notice that the neck is often a darker colour than the body, drop some darker colour in here too

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This creates instant form.

Let edges blur softly and mingle naturally on the paper.  Do not scrub or overwork

 

While still wet, use a cocktail still to add some wing markings and some feather suggestions on the neck.  

 

You can also try adding in salt to the body to create abstract feathers and interest​

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Finally add a few flicks for the tail

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Step 3 – Paint the Comb and Beak
 

When the body is dry:
 

Comb & Wattle

Use cadmium  red or vermillion.  You can really add character and personality here
 

A few quick confident strokes are better than fiddling
 

Beak

Yellow ochre + tiny touch of cadmium red or orange.  Look at your reference photos.  The beak has a downward curve

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