~ Bird Bath ~
Tutorial is © Leigh Macklan of Spilt Paint.com

 

In this tutorial you will learn how to make a traditional grey stone bird bath.  The only program you need is Mspaint but any program can be used if you have general knowledge of your software.  In my bird bath creation, I have animated water, this tutorial teaches you how to make a non-animated bird bath.  I have supplied hex colours that you can use in this tutorial but your more than welcome to use different colours and add your own variations.  Try not to follow it pixel by pixel, that way you have a more unique bird bath when your finished.  :o) Let's begin by opening a new canvas, 125x165
 

STEP 1

Firstly, you have to create the base of the bird bath using #BFC5B9.  Make a rectangular base and have the top left and right corners rounded.

 

STEP 2

Using the same colour, create a smaller platform with similar round edges.

 

STEP 3

Draw a 3rd platform, smaller than the last 2, and make it like an egg cup, with an indented top.

 

STEP 4

Draw an oval like shown above that will sit in the 3rd platform.  Make the top of the oval indented.

 

STEP 5

Now draw the final piece that will hold the bath itself.  Make sure it sits snuggly into the indent of the oval and have a flat top.

 

STEP 6

Draw the bath on top of the pole.  It's exactly like drawing a plate, just with edges.  :o)

 

STEP 7

Using #BFC5B9, create a little water spout like shown above.  Using #D9DCD6, shade the base/platforms and also the underside of the bath.

 

STEP 8

Continue shading the inside of the base/platforms and the bath using #E7E9E4.

 

STEP 9

Continue shading the inside of the base/platforms and the bath using #F5F7F4.

 

STEP 10

Flood fill any remaining areas on the base/platforms/bath using #FDFDFD.  Now fill the bath with water using #DADDEB and give the top of the water and jagged line using #C8CDE1.

 

STEP 11

Using #457A46, #5BA25E and #89BC8B, airbrush some grass for the bird bath to sit on.  There are no special settings if you are using psp/ps, it's just the standard airbrush used in mspaint.

 

STEP 12

Now it's time to decorate your grass with some flowers.  I haven't supplied colours or flower samples as I want you to create your own flowers with different colours and shapes with your own style.  :o)

 

STEP 13

Using #356036, draw 2 curved lines that go around the pole.  Using the curve tool will achieve this instead of doing it pixel by pixel.

 

STEP 14

Using #356036, create leaves that join to the curved lines.  Flood fill the leaves with #468047 and then do a lighter shading effect on the tops of the leaves using #64AA66.

 

STEP 15

To finish off your bird bath, you need to make 2 spurts of water coming out of the water spout.  Using #A2AACC and #C8CDE1, make 2 rounded lines like shown above.  Don't try and be too perfect with it, alternate between the 2 colours and making the lines a little rough will give it a good effect.

 
 

~ Back ~

Tutorial is © August 8th, 2003 Leigh Macklan and may not be reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part. In other words, it is not to leave this website. If you would like to use this tutorial in a group setting, please hand out only the link to my page (I change my html names frequently) http://www.dejavudollz.com Anything you create with this tutorial is yours to do with as you please. I do not require a link back, unless you are offering your results in a paid area.