# Port Lincoln parrot portrait **URL:** \ **Category:** Share Your Art\ **Created:** [February 11, 2023, 6:30am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774 "2023-02-11T06:30:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sooz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Sooz](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/Sooz)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 6:30am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/1 "2023-02-11T06:30:36Z")
My Aunty Pam lives in Port Lincoln, South Australia, and years ago on a visit I told her I’d paint her a Port Lincoln Parrot. Since developing my skills with Matt’s excellent tutorials via Virtual Instructor, I’ve had a number of attempts using different media I’ve been introduced to through VI. The 1st was ink and wash - a bit sketchy, but I was chuffed at how it turned out. I thought I could do a better job in colour pencil - so my 2nd and 3rd attempts are colour pencil (Derwent colour soft) on Canson Mi teints (a bit disappointing), then on Fabriano Bristol (this I was quite excited about,but the smooth paper I had difficulty with and I lost enthusiasm, but was great experience to try this paper). I meant to buy Bristol Vellum by Strathmore which is what Matt often uses for colour pencil, but when I was at the art shop, I couldn’t remember which one, so I bought a pad of this Fabriano Bristol paper. If anyone can tell me what the difference is I’d appreciate it. Given my ink & wash turned out so well (in my opinion) - I had another go on a larger scale and with some nice new selection of green watercolours and had another go at that style. I was going to put more feather detail in over the top of the water colour with colour pencil - but started to worry I would stuff it up and it would end up overworked. I had some challenges with tide marks. I’d try to soften them but a new tide mark would emerge. I’m also attempting to push the dark values for the 3D illusion, like what Matt suggests in many of his critiques. I would totally love and welcome any of you to critique these as it’s so valuable to get others perspectives. Water colour is a lot fun to play with, so I’m looking forward to having another go. Ink & water colour on 300g medium texture watercolour paper ![20230211_163546](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/2/2d083d29083bec68d23bd71bc01d3c33ab0308d7.jpeg) 1st ink and wash sketch (using Derwent Ink Tense travel set) ![20230211_163345](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/f/f78b79d0e2c0e63d00b0194b765786c2d7f38c6e.jpeg) 1st color pencil on Canson Mi Teints ![20230211_163355](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/6/63b485db84e9ea29a2326d37573f6369c4bfda72.jpeg) 2nd colour pencil on Fabriano Bristol ![20230211_171907](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/0/028250721793195f602ca84e388e3bd16b4618b4.jpeg) Here are a few practices with the water colours and the process with my current piece done this weekend ![20230211_163331](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/b/beb081f92f4e14a0edde2a3a311036fb771fb867.jpeg) ![20230210_153054](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/1/13470f6415a7c22be8faccec65879d4977e4a234.jpeg) ![20230210_170727](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thevirtualinstructor/original/2X/2/2f878a54aa96442b0fe5cd27506fc0c95127c360.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![wren07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@wren07](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/wren07)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/2 "2023-02-11T16:54:03Z")
@Sooz these are all amazing! Watercolor, im convinced, will always be my favorite when it comes the overall look. I adsolutely love your pieces and am sure your aunt will be very excited to receive whichever one you decide on sending her! Seeing as youve been to Australia and I havent, would you mind sharing some of your favorite parts of it?😊 Ive been very eager to visit and explore there for years and am hoping the chance will come up soon. I would love to hear of your experience!v Again, great job! ---
**Author:** ![anon8367598](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@anon8367598](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/anon8367598)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2023, 8:45pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/3 "2023-02-11T20:45:56Z")
@Sooz , all of your pieces look amazing! It’s also nice that you’ve got the colors laid out in a reference palette sheet(I see it in on of your photos) Constructive critique-wise, is the parrot’s body in the tree or coming out of the tree? If in the tree, then I think it could possibly be darker for more of a perspective/3D effect? And I want to point out what a phenomenal job you’ve done on the eye! The main reflection WITH the bounce back light, beautiful! 👏 🤩 ---
**Author:** ![ThatOtherGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba8739/32.png) [@ThatOtherGuy](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/ThatOtherGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 5:11am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/4 "2023-02-12T05:11:05Z")
All of My favorite things! Birds, especially parrots, ink, and watercolor and watercolor pencils! You’re better by far than I am, I couldn’t get the vibrant results you did with the Derwent Inktense pencil small set, I used Faber Castell blue box (mid range) along with Daniel Smith watercolor paint sticks for most everything I try but haven’t made anything I’m proud enough to post yet as you have! Some of the wildlife artist videos on YouTube using watercolor and pen/ink make completely realistic illustrations look fast and easy while others make abstract scenes with more watery paint, there’s such a variety of looks that can be made with watercolors, which is why I find them frustrating while loving them, not very forgiving. ---
**Author:** ![TLP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/45deac/32.png) [@TLP](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/TLP)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2023, 8:38am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/5 "2023-02-12T08:38:01Z")
Sooz, Wonderful work. I really like how you tried the same project with different mediums and on different papers. Great idea. You do wonderful work! Thank you for sharing. Teri ---
**Author:** ![junenez](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/junenez/32/4004_2.png) [@junenez](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/junenez)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2023, 12:05am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/6 "2023-02-13T00:05:30Z")
These are all great and so interesting to see all the different methods. Thanks for sharing ---
**Author:** ![Sooz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Sooz](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/Sooz)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/7 "2023-02-15T04:47:40Z")
Thanks @wren07 . There are so many amazing places on Aus. A couple of favourites are are maybe Tasmania which has many beautiful wilderness areas and Western Aus in the wildflower season. Thanks again for encouraging words. ---
**Author:** ![wren07](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@wren07](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/wren07)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2023, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/8 "2023-02-16T16:40:14Z")
@Sooz thank you for the references! Both destinations sound breathtaking, especially eith my love for wildflowers! I hope very much to visit one day and experiance Australias beauty myself​:blush:😊 And youre welcome, of course! Your art is beautiful! Keep it up! ---
**Author:** ![PeterPoggi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.thevirtualinstructor.com/peterpoggi/32/2622_2.png) [@PeterPoggi](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/u/PeterPoggi)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2023, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.thevirtualinstructor.com/t/port-lincoln-parrot-portrait/2774/9 "2023-02-21T15:30:33Z")
I love them all! Each has a different characteristic that makes it interesting, and the comparisons are a great learning tool for me. Thank you!