Marthall’s Oil Painting Morning: The Hummingbird

Teaching this recent hummingbird painting course at Cheshire Art Classes has been an absolute pleasure. Over the 4 past sessions (Just 4 hours each week), I had the joy of guiding eight wonderfully dedicated students through a rich exploration of colour, technique, and the layered process of building a painting from the ground up. The hummingbird—vibrant, intricate, and full of personality—was the perfect subject to challenge and inspire everyone. The photos throughout this blog show the complete journey, from underpainting to final details.

We began by working through the full colour wheel, exploring how complementary colours can soften and mute a palette, and how primary colours blend into subtle greys. I encouraged students to experiment with using oil paint straight from the tube to experience the incredible intensity and saturation that pure pigment can offer.

To create warmth and cohesion, we started each canvas with a burnt sienna ground. This glowing undertone gently lifted every layer that followed. We then moved on to developing the backgrounds using smooth bokeh effects. Bokeh refers to those beautifully soft, out-of-focus areas where colours blend seamlessly and edges dissolve, creating depth and bringing clarity to the focal point. Using both badger and synthetic brushes, students learned how to blend colours smoothly to achieve this dreamy, atmospheric backdrop that supports the bird without overwhelming it.

Once the backgrounds were in place, we focused on the areas that bring character to the hummingbird: the eye, beak, and wing. These details require close observation and careful shaping, and it was a pleasure to see each student approach them with patience.

From there, we moved into the blocking-in phase—laying down foundational colour to establish structure and value before adding the expressive marks that bring texture and form. As you’ll see in the process photos, this is where each bird really started to take shape, gaining presence and vibrancy with every layer.

Watching these paintings evolve from warm underlayers to richly textured, brilliantly coloured finished pieces was a genuine pleasure. I could not be more proud of this group. The progress each of you made—your growing confidence, your boldness with colour, and your thoughtful approach to technique—was extraordinary. The textures you produced are expressive and lively, and the colours quite literally lift off the canvas. Your final work shows not just practice, but true artistic development.

Every student created a hummingbird with its own character, yet all demonstrated an impressive grasp of colour harmony, layering, and form.

At Cheshire Art Classes, we aim to build skill while also nurturing curiosity and creative ambition. This project captured that balance perfectly—challenging, rewarding, and filled with wonderful results.

Thank you all for attending, and for the energy and dedication you brought to this course. I cannot wait to welcome you back in the new year for our next course, where we will be exploring the captivating world of water reflections.

Water Reflections Course