Black Cockatoo for Beginners – Oils

In this beginner to intermediate oil painting tutorial, I will show you how to paint a realistic Black Cockatoo portrait using my simple three stage painting process.

We will focus on:

• Toning the canvas
• Drawing the outline using a grid
• Blocking in the background and portrait
• Understanding the warm and cool colours within black feathers
• Working wet on wet and onto a dry layer
• Using glazing and oiling out techniques
• Creating depth through shadows, mid tones and highlights
• Adding subtle blues, purples, browns and yellows throughout the plumage
• Creating the distinctive yellow markings
• Refining the eye, beak and final feather details

This tutorial is ideal for artists who want a clear, structured approach to painting realistic birds in oils from start to finish.