I've been drawn to macaws lately! Their fun and cheeky personalities and gorgeous tropical plumage was so enjoyable to photograph and paint! I held onto this long, thin canvas for a couple years waiting for the correct subject and this macaw was perfect for it! I started with a pencil drawing. I decided to skip my monochromatic underpainting for going straight into the colors of the feathers. Multiple layers of oil on top created the fine blends and detail. I went back and fourth on the background for a while, but decided on a simplified palm to keep it tropical.