💡 Tip Before You Start

Bookmark this page so you can come back to it anytime as you work through each stage.

What You'll Learn

✔️ How to paint black fur using warm and cool tones

✔️ How to mix rich blacks and greys without using flat black paint

✔️ How to simplify fur and avoid painting every hair

✔️ How to build depth using layers and glazes

✔️ How to create a realistic, lifelike result

🎥 Introduction

Find out what to expect from this tutorial.

How to Use This Tutorial

Work through each lesson in order. You can either:

✔️Paint along step-by-step

✔️Or watch first, then paint

Take your time and pause the videos whenever you need.

🖼️ Reference Image

Download the reference photo to follow along.

🧰 Materials

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ All the materials you’ll need for this tutorial

You can find all my recommended art supplies here

A Handy Guide

Download a handy materials and colour mixing guide.

🎥 Step-by-Step Tutorial

Lesson 1 – Your Pencil Sketch

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ How to transfer your reference photo onto canvas

✔ A simple technique to sketch accurately without drawing freehand

✔ How to create a strong foundation for your painting

Lesson 2 – Preparing Your Palette

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ How to prepare your palette using the colours for this class

✔ A simple introduction to colour mixing

✔ How to mix rich, colourful blacks and greys (instead of using black straight from the tube)

Lesson 3 – Starting the Painting

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ How to start your painting with confidence

✔ Which colours to use for your first layers

✔ Which brushes to use and how to use them effectively

Lesson 4 – Building Depth with Colourful Blacks

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ How to warm up and cool down your blacks to create depth and variation

✔ How to begin building layers using acrylic paint

✔ How to use hard and soft edges to shape form and create realism

✔ How to introduce your first background layer and balance it with your subject

Lesson 5 – Painting with Greys

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ How to use a range of greys to build depth and form

✔ How to avoid flat, lifeless areas in dark fur

✔ How to gradually develop structure without overcomplicating details

Lesson 6 – Refining Your Painting

In this lesson, you’ll learn:

✔ How to refine key areas without overworking your painting

✔ How to adjust tones and edges for a more polished finish

✔ How to step back and assess your work with confidence

Final Thoughts

Let me share some final thoughts with you.

🎉 Share Your Work

I’d love to see your finished painting!

Tag me or send it through:

🎨 Continue Your Learning

If you enjoyed this tutorial, you can explore more step-by-step painting tutorials here:

Thank you so much for your support—it really means a lot and allows me to keep creating more tutorials like this.

Happy painting!

Alex