Red Tailed Black Cockatoo Art

Get a Grip

'Get a Grip', was shortlisted for the 15th Annual Solar Art Prize 2024. This stunning acrylic painting beautifully captures the essence of a female red tailed black cockatoo, inspired by a mesmerising reference photo taken by Michelle Birkett.

This detailed, realistic portrait captures the bird in a moment of natural behaviour, eating something held firmly in its grasp. The rich textures and vibrant colours of the cockatoo's plumage are meticulously rendered, highlighting the striking contrast between the dark feathers and the yellow spots characteristic of this bird’s crest.

The background of this painting features layered linocut prints of the tail feathers of this remarkable bird. These tail feathers are iconic and immediately recognisable even without the splashes of red they are named for.