Approach the project with the idea that you will have fun. Research ducks so that you are familiar with the various species and their anatomy. Spend time outdoors, use library resources or talk with duck experts. Sketch ducks swimming, walking and flying. During this time, relax with the subjects and have as much fun as possible.
Study artists who provide instruction in painting ducks. Artist Dawn McLeod Heim's work includes a step-by-step guide to painting a duckling. Viewing the steps can help you with your own painting. Many artists begin with the pencil sketch on paper. Then they transfer the image to a canvas or board. Select the colors of acrylic or oil, and begin to apply the paint. Following an art instructor's guidelines and advice can provide you with experience and confidence.
View images of ducks. Museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art offer examples of great artists who used ducks as the subject of their paintings. Jean Baptiste Oudry painted "Ducks Resting in Sunshine" in 1753. The Victoria and Albert Museum collection includes "Feeding Ducks" by François Bocion. In the first painting, ducks are shown in the wild. In the second, ducks are shown in a domesticated situation with humans. Consider how you want to convey the image of a duck in your artwork.