How to paint a parakeet with watercolours
Jennie Wickings, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial, you will learn how to paint a ringneck parakeet with watercolours! Parakeets are small to medium-sized species of parrots.
How to paint a parakeet with watercolours
Jennie Wickings, artist and illustrator, finds all her inspiration in animals and nature. In this tutorial, you will learn how to paint a ringneck parakeet with watercolours! Parakeets are small to medium-sized species of parrots.
The materials in your kit
Simply Watercolour Paint Set
Simply Watercolour Brushes
Simply Watercolour Paper
Simply Sketching Pencil Set
Find a model
Look outside or look online to find a model of a ringneck parakeet. To colour your parakeet, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.
Next step
Find a model
Look outside or look online to find a model of a ringneck parakeet. To colour your parakeet, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.
Gather your paints and tools
Select your paints and place little blobs of them on your white mixing palette. Tear off a square of watercolour paper for trials. Gather your watercolour paper and watercolour brushes. You will also need sketching pencils and a glass of water. Tip:In this tutorial, Jennie uses acrylic brushes as she preferred the stiffness of them - you can easily identify them as they have an orange handle, Simply watercolour brushes have a blue handle. Simply acrylic brushes can be used as mixed media brushes and used with watercolours. The main difference with the Simply watercolour brushes is that they will hold less water and be stiffer.
Next step
Gather your paints and tools
Select your paints and place little blobs of them on your white mixing palette. Tear off a square of watercolour paper for trials. Gather your watercolour paper and watercolour brushes. You will also need sketching pencils and a glass of water. Tip:In this tutorial, Jennie uses acrylic brushes as she preferred the stiffness of them - you can easily identify them as they have an orange handle, Simply watercolour brushes have a blue handle. Simply acrylic brushes can be used as mixed media brushes and used with watercolours. The main difference with the Simply watercolour brushes is that they will hold less water and be stiffer.
Draw the outline
Draw the outline of your parakeet and start to paint the beak and then the feathers. Mainly use greens and yellow. Tip: Apply water to the paper and it will mix the colours together on the paper directly!
Next step
Draw the outline
Draw the outline of your parakeet and start to paint the beak and then the feathers. Mainly use greens and yellow. Tip: Apply water to the paper and it will mix the colours together on the paper directly!
Paint the eye
With a fine detail brush and a little bit of black watercolour, paint the eye of your parakeet. Tip: For very delicate details, add much less water: dip your brush in the water and wipe off excess water before applying paint.
Next step
Paint the eye
With a fine detail brush and a little bit of black watercolour, paint the eye of your parakeet. Tip: For very delicate details, add much less water: dip your brush in the water and wipe off excess water before applying paint.
Add to the feathers
Add some blue to the feathers.
Next step
Add to the feathers
Add some blue to the feathers.
Define the wings
Define the wings with dark green.
Next step
Define the wings
Define the wings with dark green.
Paint the feet
With the fine detail brush and a little bit of brown, paint the feet of the parakeet. As well as the branch on which it stands.
Next step
Paint the feet
With the fine detail brush and a little bit of brown, paint the feet of the parakeet. As well as the branch on which it stands.
Highlight some outlines
For the finishing touches, you can highlight some outlines of the parakeet with a fine detail brush and a little bit of black.
Next step
Highlight some outlines
For the finishing touches, you can highlight some outlines of the parakeet with a fine detail brush and a little bit of black.
Step 1
Find a model
Look outside or look online to find a model of a ringneck parakeet. To colour your parakeet, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.
Next step
Find a model
Look outside or look online to find a model of a ringneck parakeet. To colour your parakeet, find inspiration by simply looking at the flowers around you.
Gather your paints and tools
Select your paints and place little blobs of them on your white mixing palette. Tear off a square of watercolour paper for trials. Gather your watercolour paper and watercolour brushes. You will also need sketching pencils and a glass of water. Tip:In this tutorial, Jennie uses acrylic brushes as she preferred the stiffness of them - you can easily identify them as they have an orange handle, Simply watercolour brushes have a blue handle. Simply acrylic brushes can be used as mixed media brushes and used with watercolours. The main difference with the Simply watercolour brushes is that they will hold less water and be stiffer.
Next step
Gather your paints and tools
Select your paints and place little blobs of them on your white mixing palette. Tear off a square of watercolour paper for trials. Gather your watercolour paper and watercolour brushes. You will also need sketching pencils and a glass of water. Tip:In this tutorial, Jennie uses acrylic brushes as she preferred the stiffness of them - you can easily identify them as they have an orange handle, Simply watercolour brushes have a blue handle. Simply acrylic brushes can be used as mixed media brushes and used with watercolours. The main difference with the Simply watercolour brushes is that they will hold less water and be stiffer.
Draw the outline
Draw the outline of your parakeet and start to paint the beak and then the feathers. Mainly use greens and yellow. Tip: Apply water to the paper and it will mix the colours together on the paper directly!
Next step
Draw the outline
Draw the outline of your parakeet and start to paint the beak and then the feathers. Mainly use greens and yellow. Tip: Apply water to the paper and it will mix the colours together on the paper directly!
Paint the eye
With a fine detail brush and a little bit of black watercolour, paint the eye of your parakeet. Tip: For very delicate details, add much less water: dip your brush in the water and wipe off excess water before applying paint.
Next step
Paint the eye
With a fine detail brush and a little bit of black watercolour, paint the eye of your parakeet. Tip: For very delicate details, add much less water: dip your brush in the water and wipe off excess water before applying paint.
Add to the feathers
Add some blue to the feathers.
Next step
Add to the feathers
Add some blue to the feathers.
Define the wings
Define the wings with dark green.
Next step
Define the wings
Define the wings with dark green.
Paint the feet
With the fine detail brush and a little bit of brown, paint the feet of the parakeet. As well as the branch on which it stands.
Next step
Paint the feet
With the fine detail brush and a little bit of brown, paint the feet of the parakeet. As well as the branch on which it stands.
Highlight some outlines
For the finishing touches, you can highlight some outlines of the parakeet with a fine detail brush and a little bit of black.
Next step
Highlight some outlines
For the finishing touches, you can highlight some outlines of the parakeet with a fine detail brush and a little bit of black.
Simply Watercolour
Daler-Rowney Simply Watercolour is a perfect starting point for artists and hobbyists looking to experiment with the watercolour technique. The colours wet easily onto the surface, and can be thinned with water to create washes and offer great value for money.
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Simply Watercolour Brushes
Daler-Rowney Simply Watercolour Brushes are made from natural hair in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit almost any need.
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Simply Watercolour Paper
Daler-Rowney Simply Watercolour Paper has a medium grain textured surface, perfect for the application of watercolour and gouache, as well as for drawing and ink techniques. It is perfect for hobbyists willing to experiment watercolour paintings.
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Simply Sketching Pencils
Daler-Rowney Simply offers a comprehensive range of Sketching Pencils sets. Each sets will provide professional or novice artists a variety of sketching pencils allowing them to achieve artistic depth to their sketches.
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About the artist
Jennie Webber (Wickings) is an artist and freelance illustrator, specialising in animals and nature. Using inks, watercolour and printmaking, Jennie draws inspiration from the world’s more bizarre animals, colourful marine life and unique ecosystems.
