Zara Wildlife Tutorials - Search Videos

My latest wildlife acrylic tutorial was this adorable Red Squirrel. These snippets show just how crucial the layering process is. Starting with a good base foundation makes the process and future layers easier. Through the use of glazes we don't have to worry about mixing the exact colour at each layer. Here I focus on my values first and then apply the colour with glazes. This takes away that stress of worrying about colour selection and mixing throughout the entire painting. - - - 8" x 10" acr

My latest wildlife acrylic tutorial was this adorable Red Squirrel. These snippets show just how crucial the layering process is. Starting with a good base foundation makes the process and future layers easier. Through the use of glazes we don't have to worry about mixing the exact colour at each layer. Here I focus on my values first and then apply the colour with glazes. This takes away that stress of worrying about colour selection and mixing throughout the entire painting. - - - 8" x 10" acr

68.3K viewsAug 23, 2022

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Creating this tutorial has been one of my favourites this year. I'm often asked how do I select colours and then layer them to capture the reference photograph accurately. So this Giraffe video shows one half where I am working in greyscale (all done with pastel pencils) and this focuses on the importance of contrast and values because it's this that replicates the three dimensional feel of a portrait. I then did the other side in colour showing the method I use for picking colours and then how

Creating this tutorial has been one of my favourites this year. I'm often asked how do I select colours and then layer them to capture the reference photograph accurately. So this Giraffe video shows one half where I am working in greyscale (all done with pastel pencils) and this focuses on the importance of contrast and values because it's this that replicates the three dimensional feel of a portrait. I then did the other side in colour showing the method I use for picking colours and then how

66.6K viewsNov 10, 2022

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The layering process for fur like this is so important. My favourite way to work with pastels is to just use the pencils for the subjects. I love the control this brings and especially with fur colouration such as this, as it helps to keep markings more separate and reduce the chances of muddy layers. Building the layers required attention to the correct stage of the fur in the reference photo being drawn at the right time. Adding top layers of fur too soon would really reduce the depth and real

The layering process for fur like this is so important. My favourite way to work with pastels is to just use the pencils for the subjects. I love the control this brings and especially with fur colouration such as this, as it helps to keep markings more separate and reduce the chances of muddy layers. Building the layers required attention to the correct stage of the fur in the reference photo being drawn at the right time. Adding top layers of fur too soon would really reduce the depth and real

7.7K views4 months ago

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A small 4" x 6" graphite drawing which was lots of fun to draw was this little baby Penguin. I can't believe I am starting the next selection of December tutorials - how can that be?! The December subject for this years graphite project is very different though... Fur not feathers and from an entirely different part of the planet 🤔 - - - Reference photo: Siggy Nowak from Pixabay | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

A small 4" x 6" graphite drawing which was lots of fun to draw was this little baby Penguin. I can't believe I am starting the next selection of December tutorials - how can that be?! The December subject for this years graphite project is very different though... Fur not feathers and from an entirely different part of the planet 🤔 - - - Reference photo: Siggy Nowak from Pixabay | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

2.7K views6 months ago

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This fur type is complex with how the fur overlaps at many different stages. To paint this realistically I find focusing on the fur that is closest to the skin first and working up from there simplifies the process significantly. If the top details are painted first we end up feeling more committed to those layers and not want to work back on what is beneath them to avoid painting over details already created. The wonderful thing about acrylics is the wonderful ability of being able to layer end

This fur type is complex with how the fur overlaps at many different stages. To paint this realistically I find focusing on the fur that is closest to the skin first and working up from there simplifies the process significantly. If the top details are painted first we end up feeling more committed to those layers and not want to work back on what is beneath them to avoid painting over details already created. The wonderful thing about acrylics is the wonderful ability of being able to layer end

54K viewsMay 1, 2025

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This was a great little project for refining brush technique for fur that changes direction really quickly. These changes of direction are crucial when aiming for a higher level of realism. If the portrait is a little smaller then it's more important to capture the main directional changes rather than trying to force all of them. I always prefer to ensure the fur over key areas such as the structures around the facial features, joints, key parts of the body ensure that the right shape & form is

This was a great little project for refining brush technique for fur that changes direction really quickly. These changes of direction are crucial when aiming for a higher level of realism. If the portrait is a little smaller then it's more important to capture the main directional changes rather than trying to force all of them. I always prefer to ensure the fur over key areas such as the structures around the facial features, joints, key parts of the body ensure that the right shape & form is

4K views6 months ago

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Every part of this graphite drawing required the use of shading, blending & softening. This was a crucial process of drawing this Sphynx cat. Without the fur detail to back up the contrast, the shadows and highlights of the creases on the skin had to have the correct softness to ensure they accurately replicated the shape and form of the cat. If over blended and too soft, then it would look quite flat but if the creases were too harsh then it would look to rigid so the balance was vital. - - - 6

Every part of this graphite drawing required the use of shading, blending & softening. This was a crucial process of drawing this Sphynx cat. Without the fur detail to back up the contrast, the shadows and highlights of the creases on the skin had to have the correct softness to ensure they accurately replicated the shape and form of the cat. If over blended and too soft, then it would look quite flat but if the creases were too harsh then it would look to rigid so the balance was vital. - - - 6

3.3K views7 months ago

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With fur that overlaps like this, the layering order can really help to simplify the drawing process. A good base which has softness, no harsh edges, tiding up values and enhancing contrast with the pencils before then adding highlights with erasers is the general process I used for this but I always came back with the pencils and again with highlights to push the level of depth I captured here. If the bright highlights are added straight on top of the base, then the drawing will look flat. Buil

6.7K viewsMar 2, 2025

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I do prefer to use smaller sized brushes in general as I like the additional control of working more accurately to the reference photo. It can be more tempting with larger brushes to block in more sold colours, especially for the base stages and as I do feel a more accurate base foundation helps enhance the realism, that's definitely something I want to avoid. - - - 8" x 8" acrylic painting Reference photo: Unsplash | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

3.1K views3 months ago

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Small projects are perfect for practicing and refining drawing skills without having to spend days on one portrait. Key techniques that are invaluable for larger drawings so I always like to incorporate these into my creative schedule ☺️ | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

8.2K viewsMay 17, 2025

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Working with pastels, layering up depth is what I adore about working with this medium. The flexibility of adding lighter details over darker layers and building up the fur in the way it naturally would be, can make such a difference when drawing realism. | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

109.1K viewsNov 18, 2024

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With fur textures that are a little more textured, I still prefer to focus on creating a good base foundation first and then build up the finer pencil technique. I find that the base layer still needs that blended, softer appearance otherwise the pencil strokes can look to harsh. | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

11.5K viewsDec 12, 2024

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Throughout many stages of this painting I used glazes to adjust the colour and soften layers. This is a quick and effective way of enhancing depth but it's very important to make sure the area where the glaze is applied, is completely dry. This ensures the details underneath are not disturbed and that the colour of the glaze remains as intended and not mixed with other layers. - - - 12" x 16" acrylic painting Reference photo: Kitten Grace Kelly on Unsplash | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

3.7K views11 months ago

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Something a little different and the colours that went into this do require a more structured layering process. With a vibrant colour, I always prefer to start with that first to ensure the colour saturation is in place. I feel this greatly reduces the chance of colours becoming muddy and can make the piece more striking. | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

14.8K viewsMar 16, 2025

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This Deer was really interesting to draw because of the variety of textures. The antlers, the shorter fur on the face and the overlapping lighter hairs of the inner ear all made this a great project to refine drawing skills. It's not just the way we use the pencils but also at what point to incorperate highlights through using the correct erasers. I am always switching between them both to build up as much depth at each layering stage as possible. - - - 10" x 12" Reference photo: Pixabay | Zara'

12.8K viewsJul 4, 2024

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How to paint a bird in acrylics | With one brush | Perfect beginner tutorial

13.4K viewsJun 3, 2023

YouTubeZara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

Zara Lion - Bear Tail modification

6.7K viewsOct 30, 2024

YouTubeCozy Cloud Knits

I love painting animals that are a little different from what I typically have on the easel. This little Guinea Pig was so much fun to paint. I loved the way the fur changes direction so many times. A really interesting animal and ideal for refining brush technique. | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

14.6K viewsJul 7, 2024

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Here are a few little clips of my latest pastel drawing 🦚. So many beautiful colours to work with for this piece 😍 | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

128.3K viewsApr 2, 2024

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All that hair and many layers of painting 😍. The liner brushes definitely are a must have for paintings like this. | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

14.8K viewsApr 3, 2024

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Zara's Zoo Adventure -🐯🦒 “Zara’s WILD Zoo Adventure! Meet Amazing Animals From Around the World!”

346 views8 months ago

YouTubeTiny Tots Sandbox

🎨🖌 Painted with one brush 🖌🎨 A project that I enjoyed far more than I thought I would. I wanted to create a tutorial that would be a perfect for any artist new to acrylics and I thought what better way than to use just one brush 😁. This would enable us to really focus on practicing good brush technique which is what ensures we get the most out of any brush we are using. Without doubt, this is what is more important rather than worrying about having loads of brushes that we hardly ever use (

34.9K viewsJun 4, 2023

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Small studies like this are a great way of refining our painting and drawing skills 😍. Practicing how to select and mix the colours throughout the layering process was a main focus throughout this lesson. I loved creating this one 😁 | Zara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

60.2K viewsApr 13, 2024

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Soft rain, cool water, Zara has found the perfect rhythm to escape the summer heat.💚 | Wildlife SOS

33.2K views11 months ago

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PAINTING A GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPY IN ACRYLICS | GOLDEN RETRIEVER PAINTING | ACRYLIC TIPS

60.6K viewsJul 6, 2022

YouTubeZara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

How to paint fur in acrylics | Painting a Cockerpoo/Poodle curly fur

39.8K viewsMay 6, 2023

YouTubeZara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

🐾 Animal Action Song for Kids | Move, Dance & Learn with Zara | Kids, Toddlers & Preschool

3.3K views7 months ago

YouTubeZara Time

HOW TO DRAW BLACK AND WHITE FUR IN PASTELS | DRAWING A BLACK AND WHITE CAT

8K viewsNov 20, 2021

YouTubeZara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

Zara's Survival Journey | Daily Animal Wild #Wildlife #Nature #Survival #Zebra #Lion

939 views8 months ago

YouTubeDaily Animal Wild

How to draw an Owl in graphite | Drawing feathers

4.3K viewsDec 24, 2022

YouTubeZara's Pet Portraits & Wildlife Art

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