A step by step tutorial showing you exactly how I painted this colourful toucan painting! Creating colourful paintings is my passion so it was only a matter of time before I painted a toucan!
Below is the time lapse video of this toucan painting, however as always the FULL LENGTH VIDEO is available from my Patreon. By signing up to my Patreon you will get instant access to every tutorial and painting video I have ever made (as well as every tutorial I make in the future!)
Let's get started on this painting!
Step 1:
Begin by roughly sketching the outline of the toucan onto the canvas with pencil. Then paint the first layer of the background, starting from pink at the bottom left, gradually moving to a yellow/orange shade of paint. If you want a different coloured background for your toucan painting just use different colours!
Step 2:
This step is optional (but really fun!)
Paint a second layer of the background, with the same colour paints, but this time using your fingers! This is a great way to add texture. Other background painting techniques I love include palette knife painting, acrylic inks and more! There a tutorials covering all of these in my Patreon!
Step 3:
Now we get to start painting the toucan! Use a range of blacks, greys and light blues to paint the black feathers of the toucan. Layer up darker and lighter tones to create depth, shadows and highlights. Really focus on where the light it hitting the toucan and emphasise the highlights in those areas of the painting.
Step 4:
Moving onto the yellow section of the toucan, use a range of yellow, brown and lime green paints. Focus the browns and the darker yellows underneath the toucan’s beak, as that will be shadowed. Flick your paintbrush in different directions to give the impression of feathers.
Step 5:
To paint the toucan’s beak you will need a range of yellow, orange, green, blue and pink paints (yes that is almost every colour!!) For this section really look at your reference photos, or any images of toucan’s beaks! Paint the upper beak with yellow and orange paints, and the lower beak with greens and blues. Then paint the tip of the beak in a dark magenta.
Step 6:
To paint the toucan’s eye I used light, mid and dark green paints as well as a little black. Paint the outer edge of the eye with the darkest green, moving to lighter green paint towards the centre of the eye. Paint the highlight with light grey/blue paint.
Step 7:
Time to add the finishing touches! Paint the black section in-between the toucan’s beak and face. Then paint the little triangles on the beak in a paint a shade darker than the colour you are painting on to. Finally, add anymore highlights etc that are needed and your toucan is finished!
I hope you found this painting tutorial helpful! If you want to learn more about how to paint colourful animals subscribe below to get my top 10 tips sent straight to your inbox!
