Humming Bird by Rupavani

From the Artist: This is my very first painting with a painting knife although I had purchased it long back. I still don't think I know how to use it, and want to improve, but it feels good to see the result. I would definitely try on some more.

From the Painting Guide: Looking at your painting, I don't think you should worry about not knowing how to use a painting knife... the results would say otherwise! Like working with a brush, it's a question of practice, of getting familiar with what action produces what type of mark. I think you've used the knife to get a fabulous sense of the texture of feathers overlapping and wrapping around a bird's body.

Things to Consider When Looking at This Painting:
Composition: If you took the leaves and side-branches off the stem of the plant it would more or less cuts the canvas in half vertically. But notice how it doesn't because of the other elements in the composition and the angles of these. The greenery to the left is light in tone but extends far into the space, balanced on the right by the little touches of greenery at the top and bottom and dominate shapes of the bird and flower (dominant both in color and by being the darkest tone).