Crazy Cocky

I painted this cockatoo in May 2020. COVID gave me a much needed kick-start to my creative side. It was after the first confinement but the last term of school had recommenced online rather than on-site, so as a way to share something personal with my students, I started drawing and painting on of my favourite Australian birds, the cockatoo.

I started with a few sketches, then I prepped the canvas with a black gesso background and randomly stamped aqua coloured flowers on it. I carved the stamp was on a linoluem tile using a variety of carving tools.

Next I sketched the cockatoo with chalk and layer by layer I worked on it until I achieved this.

I often take progress photos as it lets me see the artwork from a "distance". I also use the photos to help me as a reference point, such as if I need to revisit a section of the artwork, add or remove detail.

This painting is 90cm x 120cm, painted with acrylic paints and texture paste.

I have very slowly been working on the Domestika course by Sarah Stokes as I would like to see if I can capture the cockatoo's character in watercolour. Sarah's course is fantastic, with so much detail and information. I will learn a great deal from her.