Enter the vibrant world of hummingbirds—tiny aerial acrobats whose shimmering feathers, rapid wingbeats, and strong floral partnerships make them one of nature’s most captivating subjects. In this immersive 4-week online course, I will guide you through the process of observing, drawing, and painting hummingbirds with accuracy, depth, and artistic expression.

Each week focuses on a unique aspect of hummingbird life and provides a new composition to explore:

Week 1: Perched Studies & Foundations

Learn the fundamentals of hummingbird anatomy, proportions, and feather groups while creating a detailed perched study on a botanical branch. Explore how to achieve softness, texture, and clarity through graphite underdrawings and carefully layered watercolor.

Week 2: Heliconias & Pollination—A Symbiotic Dance

Dive into the extraordinary relationship between hummingbirds and the plants that evolved alongside them. Create a dynamic hovering composition featuring heliconias, torch gingers, or tubular blooms, and learn glazing techniques to capture iridescence and color vibrancy.

Week 3: Nesting & Intimate Natural Moments

Study the architecture of hummingbird nests—woven from moss, lichen, and spider silk—as you build a delicate, textural vignette full of depth and storytelling. Learn how to balance detail with atmosphere and keep your tiny focal point crisp and engaging.

Week 4: Flight Studies—Capturing Motion & Light

Explore gesture, movement, and the illusion of speed. Discover how to portray wing motion, translucency, and iridescent feather shifts while designing a compelling composition filled with energy and grace.

Demonstrations and explanations blend fine art techniques with natural history knowledge, helping you understand not only how to draw hummingbirds, but why their forms, colors, and behaviors appear as they do. Students may work in watercolor, gouache, colored pencil, and graphite—individually or in combination—to develop a personalized approach grounded in accuracy and expressive storytelling.

By the end of the four weeks, you will have a collection of studies and finished pieces that celebrate the beauty and ecological importance of hummingbirds, along with skills you can apply to any botanical or wildlife subject.

For a list of recommended art supplies click here. 

Live on Zoom – Recording Provided each week