My goal is to practice and experiment with creating various textures and styles. Because feathers require a different technique than hair and fur, I gave creating a bird a go.

Everything starts with a sketch and a bird is a simple shaped subject to draw. I added some blossoms to provide contrast and to anchor the bird to the scene. Of course, the bird needed to sit on a branch.

I created the illusion of feathers by experimenting with a brush that emulates a hard-edge watercolor bush. Choosing a pale white color created a ghost in the shape of a feather which I laid down much like laying shingles on a roof starting at the bottom and working toward the top to create an overlap.

Perhaps not the best for a first attempt although I'm always working toward improvement.