To make this 3D paper cardinal, first I made the paper-sculpted body, cut hundreds of feathers, then attached the feathers to his body. The fluffy white cardinal is now ready to paint.

I painted the cardinal with watercolor, using many light washes of reds, yellows, oranges and even added layers of purplish blues on his wing with touches of greens here and there. It took many layers to slowly darken the bird until the feathers became the colors of a cardinal.

Before adding a new layer of color, I had to wait until the previous layer of watercolor thoroughly dried. It is different painting on feathers as opposed to putting these layers of color on a sheet of watercolor paper. The paper feathers are very delicate, and I also want to add paint slowly to make sure the colors and shading are just as they should.

As I darkened the feathers, you can still see some purple undertones and the oranges and yellows coming through from underneath the bird’s feathers.

Here is the cardinal bird all done! He is going to reside in my “Charming Victorian Country Garden Retreat” installation at the Mansion at Strathmore, which will run September through October. I am sure he will be accompanied by a few other feathery friends.