Goldfinch: Brilliant & Expressive Birds in Watercolor
Sunday, October 18, 2026 · 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
Membership - · Fairport, NY
About this event
@ Bring a brilliant American Goldfinch to life in this fun, three-hour intermediate watercolor workshop! Learn expressive washes, beautiful color blending, feather textures, and finishing details — with a prepared outline provided, so you can skip the drawing and jump straight into the joy of painting. Instructor: Yui Kinney ( yui@yuiart.com ) Skill Level: Intermediate Cost: $40 Date: Sunday, October 18, from 3–6pm Come paint this bright and cheerful goldfinch with Yui! In this relaxed three-hour workshop, we’ll explore beautiful yellows, expressive brushstrokes, and playful watercolor textures as we bring this sweet little bird to life. We’ll begin with the glowing bird chest, blending colors to create a brilliant golden body filled with light and dimension. Then we’ll add rich dark wings, preserve the crisp white feather markings, and finish the bird with a sparkling eye, delicate beak, feet, and just the right amount of feather detail. We’ll also have fun painting the branch! You’ll sprinkle salt onto damp watercolor and watch it create surprising, organic textures that resemble natural bark. Every salt pattern develops differently, so every painting will have its own special character. A prepared goldfinch outline will be provided, which means you can skip the drawing and jump right into the fun of painting! This class is about enjoying the watercolor painting process, not creating an exact copy of the instructor’s painting—your goldfinch will have its own personality! Mistakes are part of the watercolor process, and individual guidance will be provided throughout the workshop. Students should expect to complete or nearly complete one goldfinch painting. What you’ll learn: Use light, middle, and dark values to make the bird feel rounded Create soft wet-on-wet washes and controlled layers Preserve white wing markings with negative painting Paint rich dark feathers without making the wing look flat Combine soft and crisp edges for expressive plumage Lift highlights and add simple feather textures Paint a natural branch with organic texture Add beautiful finishing details without overworking your painting What to bring: Bring your favorite watercolor brushes if you have them. If not, no worries, brushes will be provided. All other materials are provided, including watercolor paints, watercolor fine art paper, a water jar, paper towels, and the prepared bird outline. Location: Railroad Street Artworks 3 Railroad Street, Suite G Fairport, NY 14450 Class size limited to 10 students. Add to calendar Google Calendar iCalendar Outlook 365 Outlook Live YUI KINNEY is a wildlife artist from Rochester and a member of the Artworks gallery. Growing up in the Thai countryside, she built a deep connection to animals and nature. Her paintings explore the calm strength in wildlife and the human spirit, inviting viewers to slow down and reconnect with stillness. Discover more at www.yuiart.com .
Event details
- Date and time
- Sunday, October 18, 2026 · 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM EDT
- Venue
- Membership - · Fairport, NY
- Category
- Education
- Cost
- Cost not stated
- Age guidance
- Age guidance not specified
- Format
- In person
- Last verified
- October 6, 2026
Accessibility
Wheelchair: Not stated
Assistive Listening: Not stated
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