Home About Tutorials Contact

Black Cockatoo for Beginners – Acrylic

In this beginner-level acrylic painting tutorial, I will show you how to paint a realistic Black Cockatoo portrait using my simple seven-layer process.

We will focus on:

  • Toning the canvas
  • Drawing the outline using a grid
  • Blocking in the background and portrait
  • Understanding the dark, warm and cool colours within black feathers
  • Building realistic feathers using simple brushwork
  • Using opacity layers and transparent glazes
  • Creating depth through layered shadows, mid-tones and highlights
  • Adding the subtle blues, browns and yellows throughout the plumage
  • 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 acrylics from start to finish.

The reference image is sourced from Pixabay.com and is royalty free for artists to use.

 

Black Cockatoo for Beginners - Acrylic

  1. Getting Started

    6 lessons
    1. Introduction
    2. The Reference Image & Layering Process
    3. Materials
    4. Toning the Canvas
    5. Creating the Grid & the Outlines
    6. Resources

  2. The Seven-layer Application Process

    8 lessons
    1. Palette Prep & Background
    2. Layer One - Blocking In
    3. Layer Two - Opacity Layer
    4. Layer Three - Shadow Glaze
    5. Layer Four - Opacity Layer
    6. Layer Five - Darker Mid Tones
    7. Layer Six - Mid Tones
    8. Layer Seven - Finishing Touches