Easy One-Stroke Owl Painting For Beginners

Painting an owl can be a fun and creative activity, and it's easier than you think! Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, there are many ways to paint an owl, from whimsical and abstract to photorealistic. You can use different techniques, such as acrylic pouring or traditional brush strokes, and choose from a variety of colours and styles to create your unique owl painting. So, grab your brushes, paints, and other art supplies, and let's dive into the step-by-step process of creating a beautiful owl painting with just one stroke!

Start with a sketch: Draw guidelines and sketch a simple owl shape with a straight edge or ruler

To begin painting an owl, it is important to start with a sketch to guide your painting process. You can use a straight edge, a regular ruler, or a clear sewing ruler to draw guidelines for your sketch. Begin by finding the middle of your canvas and marking it with perpendicular lines. Then, work your way outwards from the centre. You can create guidelines for any points of reference you want to include in your sketch, such as ensuring the eyes are at the same height or focusing on the tufts on the owl's head.

Once you have your guidelines in place, you can start sketching the owl's shape. Use a simple owl reference or draw your own, ensuring that you have a clear and simple sketch to work from. Don't worry if you're not confident in your drawing skills; this step is manageable for everyone. You can even download an owl template and trace it onto your painting surface if you prefer. After tracing the owl, you can add additional details to your sketch, such as a simple tree limb for the owl to sit on and a tree trunk on the side of the page.

Before you start painting, outline all the lines of your sketch with a Sharpie. This will ensure that your sketch lines don't disappear once you begin painting. Additionally, you can add further details to your sketch, such as the eyes, beak, and talons, depending on the level of detail you want to include in your painting. Remember, this initial sketch will serve as a guide, so take your time and feel free to refer to references or templates to create a simple owl shape that you're happy with.

Paint the background: Use a large brush to create a circle for the moon, adding yellow and orange rings

Painting a one-stroke owl is a fun project, especially for beginners. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started on painting the background, with a focus on creating a circle for the moon and adding yellow and orange rings:

Paint the Background:

Start by painting the background using a large brush. You can use a 3/4" wash brush or a large #10 round brush for this step. First, load your brush with white paint and create a circle for the moon. Make sure to use large, circular motions to form the shape of the moon.

Create a Glowing Effect:

To make the moon stand out and create a glowing effect, you can add some colour rings around it. First, paint a yellow ring around the moon using a flat brush. This ring should be about 1" thick. Then, add an orange ring around the yellow one, ensuring that it is about the same thickness.

Blending the Colours:

To create a seamless blend between the yellow and orange rings, you can use a wet brush to blend the colours together. This "wet-on-wet" technique will help you achieve a smooth transition between the two colours. Alternatively, you can allow the paint to dry and then go back over it to add more layers and enhance the colours.

Additional Details:

For added interest, you can include some white "C" lines around the moon. You can use either a dry or a wet brush for this step. Additionally, if you want to give your painting a Halloween theme, as mentioned in some tutorials, you can add a bit of purple to your white paint when creating the moon. This will result in a lavender colour, which you can go over again once it's dry to make the moon stand out.

Final Touches:

Finally, don't forget to outline all the lines with a Sharpie before you start painting. This will ensure that you don't lose the outline of your moon and other elements once you begin adding paint.

Paint the owl's body: Use brown paint and a round brush to paint the wings and body, contouring with the shape

Painting an owl can be a fun project, especially for beginners. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you paint an owl's body, focusing on using brown paint and a round brush to contour and shape its wings and body:

Prepare your materials:

Before you begin painting, ensure you have all the necessary materials ready. You will need brown paint, a round brush, a palette knife, and a painting surface such as a canvas or paper. It is also helpful to have a reference image or sketch of an owl to guide your painting process.

Start with the wings:

Load your round brush with brown paint. Begin painting the wings, using curved strokes that follow the direction and shape of the wing. It is important to contour the wings to create a sense of depth and dimension. Take your time with this step, as the wings are an essential feature of an owl's body.

Paint the body:

Continue using the brown paint and round brush to paint the owl's body, ensuring that you contour and shape it appropriately. Imagine the curve of the owl's chest and stomach as you paint, creating smooth, rounded strokes. You can add layers to build up the colour and create a sense of fluffiness or feather texture.

Blend and layer:

To create depth and make the owl's body appear more three-dimensional, you can blend and layer the brown paint. Add a small amount of white paint to your brown to create a light brown shade. Use this lighter shade to highlight certain areas, such as the chest and stomach, bringing them forward and creating a sense of roundness.

Add details:

Once you have the basic shape and colour of the owl's body, you can add details to bring it to life. Use thin, curved strokes to suggest feathers along the wings and body. You can also add subtle shading by mixing a darker brown or even a hint of black to your original brown paint. Remember to keep your brushstrokes fluid and follow the natural contours of the owl's body.

Final touches:

Step back and assess your painting. You can now make any final adjustments to the owl's body, ensuring you are happy with the shape, colour, and details. Remember that practice makes perfect, and each attempt will improve your skills.

By following these steps and focusing on using brown paint and a round brush to contour and shape the wings and body, you will be well on your way to creating a beautiful owl painting.

Add details: Paint the eyes, beak, and talons, using a dry brush effect for a glass-like look

Now that you've painted the body of the owl, it's time to add the finer details. Using a 4 round brush, start by painting the eyes mars black. Then, paint the outer part of the eyes – mix white, primary yellow, and cadmium orange hue for a light orange shade. You may need to go over this with a second coat to make it opaque. Next, add one or two small dots on the left side of the black part of the eyes to give the owl a "bubbly eye" look.

After that, paint the beak and talons. Mix orange with a little yellow and white so that the colour isn't too strong. To achieve a glass-like look, use a dry brush effect. Load your 12 bright brush with white and a hint of light blue permanent paint. Wipe off most of the paint so that your brush is almost dry. Then, drag your brush from top to bottom to create a very dry stroke, resembling glass.

You can also add details such as feathers and ear tufts with a round brush and some brown paint.

Final touches: Paint the head, feathers, and ear tufts, using a round brush and brown paint

Now, it's time to add the final touches to your owl painting! Grab your round brush and brown paint, and let's get started on the head, feathers, and ear tufts.

Start by loading your round brush with plenty of brown paint. For the head, it's a good idea to begin by painting around the circles of the eyes and carefully contouring around the shape of the beak. Then, move on to the top of the head, filling in the space above the eyes. Remember to refer back to your sketch or template to ensure you're staying within the outlines of the head.

Next, use the same brush and paint to add feathers above the eyes and create the ear tufts. You can add some texture to the feathers by using short, curved strokes. If you want to accentuate the ear tufts, you can add some thin lines of other colors, such as light blue, metallic cobalt, or magenta, and then pull the paint downwards towards the center of the owl's face.

Feel free to add more details to the head and feathers, such as shading or highlights, to give your owl a three-dimensional appearance. Remember to step back and admire your work as you go!

Once you're happy with how the head, feathers, and ear tufts look, take a moment to ensure that your painting is dry before moving on to any additional steps, such as adding a background or touching up any other areas.

Frequently asked questions