Kingfisher in Quick SIMPLE watercolours - Episode 6 - Wildlife Art Series

What a fantastic bird hey!? ..and what a painting subject! A few potential pitfalls but with a few quick tips we can get fresh little watercolours of this beautiful bird!
The colours for this painting were all from Holbein:
Pyrole Red (orangey red)
Pthalo Blue (very strong, very greeney blue)
Turquoise Blue (a tiny touch)
New Gamboge Yellow (slightly cool, similar to lemon yellow)
Cadmium Orange (could be mixd from red and yellow of course, sometimes I'm feeling lazy;)
It was painted on Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolour paper (gummed block) with a size 14 & size 8 synthetic round brush.
You can download the line drawing to copy at the Patreon link below. Simply visit the page and scroll down for the attachment. This is viewable by public, NO account required :)
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Also a great source of copyright free images:
Pixabay.com
In this series we will be looking at using minimal equipment to create quick & simple, 10 - 20 minute, watercolour paintings of birds. The emphasis will be on lots of movement, character and letting the beautiful medium of watercolour just do it's thing! With just the odd hit of detail. These are going to be fun and expressive watercolours, full of life...and hopefully for everyone from total beginner to seasoned watercolourist.
As the series goes on I will be building on the these approaches, principles and tips, so please consider subscribing if this is your thing.
You can follow this new series here on KZbin, so be sure to like and subscribe. You can also follow on Instagram TV at the link below.
/ tomshepherdartist
If you're keen on deeper tutorials and much more behind the scenes goings one, hop over to my Patreon page. You can also show your support for this new series there too:
/ tomshepherdart
Other useful links:
www.tomshepherdart.com/
/ tomshepherdart
How to paint birds, particularly in watercolour. Wet into wet techniques in watercolours. Watercolor flying birds and watercolor perched birds, of all sorts, from tropical birds to garden birds, and everything in between.

[@SB-qs9zu]

I appreciate the tips, especially how to use angle lines to draw a bird and focus on bigger shapes first. Such a pleasure to watch this video! I am now inspired to get back to drawing and painting birds again. Thanks so much for this video and the other ones too!

[@deborahsharp2354]

Hi Tom, you have given me inspiration to paint by keeping things fresh and fun! I have a broken back and have been ordered to take it easy so your quick bird series is the perfect "take it easy" break I needed😊 Thank you!! You are awesome

[@laurlauraa]

I could watch you painting all day. Lovely tutorial thanks

[@tomshepherdartist]

Ahh, thanks so much Laura

[@lindathaxton1994]

One of my favorite birds!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Absolutely...such a great painting subject!

[@jenniferspotten915]

Love the eye demo! Thank you for sharing this info!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!:)

[@miahughes1450]

Thank you Tom. The eyes I painted under your excellent guidance are scarily good. If I continue to follow your tutorials - which I will - others will think I have some talent! I do prefer the once and done method even if it’s not technically as good so thank you again for showing the alternatives.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hey Mia, that's so great to hear. So pleased you are getting so much out of them. Haha practice and a few tips and tricks trumps talent anytime anyway!;) T

[@user-pw1sb4ti4t]

Уважаемый Томас .Когда я смотрю на вашу живопись почему то постоянно ловлю себя на том что смотрю каллиграфию Китая или традиционную живопись..быстрота и точность передачи настроения и маска...Спасибо.

[@rafagutierrezanguita103]

Espectacular trabajo de acuarela ,es un talento ilustrando aves con esta difícil técnica 👏👏🎨

[@stacys447]

Just completed this one and am always learning something. I need to re-watch and practice your eye tips. Thanks so much!

[@esthervisser6639]

Absolutely wonderful. I love painting kingfishers too!

[@tomshepherdartist]

They’re a lot of fun aren’t they!!☺️

[@esthervisser6639]

@@tomshepherdartist Yes, they really are!

[@libbyeichmann2956]

This version of kingfisher is really eyecatching. Good tutorial for painting techniques also. Thank you for the detail on the paints and the mix of the paints. Paint information is usually lacking in free online tutorials, but you have given a good breakdown of the paint mix and usage. Thank you for this excellent tutorial.

[@tomshepherdartist]

So glad it helps. Thank you fir taking the time to write such a positive comment!! T

[@christinefalconer8886]

Absolutely amazing again. Really enjoying these tutorials. New Year now, so have to do some of these videos. Keep trying to find time. Thanks Tom so much.

[@maliwanchewpreecha3382]

Thank you Tom

[@1000Zebedee]

Thanks Tom. Looseness is something I am beginning to get the hang of and your eloquent proper English narration is very welcome. The eyes have it -so they say, and these techniques are very convincing. Your channel is superb.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Ahh thank you fir such a lovely comment!! So glad you are enjoying....great to hear the looseness is coming. It takes time, and I often wish to be even looser!!;)

[@michellehurrell4274]

Love your style. I’m going to give this a try.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you ...good luck!!!:)

[@undiscoveredmontenegro]

Thank you so much! Sketching’s the easy bit for me. I’ve always been scared to try adding paint, but yesterday I did it for the first time following your brilliant tutorial and loved the result.

[@tomshepherdartist]

That’s great news!!!! Thank you :)

[@kerrylaw100]

WOW THANK YOU THANK YOU … it was my fourth try and you nailed it I love it 😊

[@denavess7469]

Love the tip on eyes.. I never knew how make it look realistic .. I’m very interested in class coming soon! ❤️

[@tomshepherdartist]

So pleased it helped...they can be so simple but also realistic :)

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

What a brilliant bird: I really like the color combo - orange vs blue!! Excellent choice and well done 👍

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you ☺️ my favourite colour combo!!

[@lindathaxton1994]

Sooo fun & educational! Thank you

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much!!:) T

[@RolyEm]

Superb video Tom - have just started in watercolours and now at college where this is the next assignment for us, thank you - your style is so helpfull for beginners

[@tomshepherdartist]

thanks so much. Oh great. Thats fantastic to hear. Good luck with it. T

[@jujubee7351]

Wow your good! You popped up in the algorithm, I’m glad you did! How do you not have more subs? Well I’m here for it

[@tomshepherdartist]

Ahh thank you for the kind words!!! I appreciate the support :) T

[@kdautry100]

Thank you for your wonderful videos! Just found your channel this morning and subscribed immediately. I especially like and needed the segment on eye detail in this video . I like your technique in teaching because you speak, but you aren’t excessively chattering. Your method of teaching is perfect for me. You provide the right amount of teaching and demonstrating! Thank you!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much Kerry. I really appreciate the reply and the kind words. so pleased you are liking the videos. Lots more planned! A little quiet for a week or so as moving house but towards the end of the year we'll back in the flow!!:) T

[@jeannegow2144]

Love your style, Tom... just found your channel...great tutorial!...will be watching lots!!!thanks very much!!!!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much, Jeanne. Much appreciated. I hope you enjoy them. T

[@36685]

Magnifique 🎉🎉 merci beaucoup..

[@GazBower]

Thank you Tom... really enjoyed this Kingfisher. Only just found your channel. I like the loose syle you use here.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi Gary, thanks the comment and kind words! T

[@ranias76]

Thank you Tom ,this has been so helpful ,you are a very talented artist. claire

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks Claire! I appreciate the kind words and support :) T

[@laurabev123]

Lovely work!

[@naliniisame4809]

I also drew this bird but you explained it superb, amazing

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much!!:) T

[@barcalonga]

Thank you so much - I love watching your videos and I love painting birds, but was getting stuck as I tend to invariably overwork the paint without meaning to. Your video has taught me a lot!

[@tomshepherdartist]

So glad you enjoyed it! We are all guilt of overworking too much! Easily done. Really thinking about what tone you are trying to create in an area can really helps. It means we don't have to keep going over an area time and time again. Even as simple as asking yourself, is this a light, mid shadow or deep shadow, can be al that is needed. T

[@oliviavance8774]

You’re such a talented artist 👏 amazing

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much!!!:) T

[@armandosrd.l9610]

Please one Tuto of a Hummingbird! Nice videos

[@albertobautista1032]

Amazing work, thanks for sharing

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you. I appreciate the support? T

[@suel4269]

Your brushwork Is very unique.

[@tomshepherdartist]

☺️🙌🏼🙏

[@simondo1027]

Really good. Thank you.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you! T

[@SonaRajgor]

Perfect teaching thankyou

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much!!:)

[@techoasys]

I am loving your abstract bird watercolour paintings and just subscribed to your channel. These are just absolutely stunning. I just started watercolour 3 weeks ago mainly because of the quarentine, and you are incredibly talented at breaking down the walls of otherwise very complicated techniques for me. Thank you kindly. I cannot wait to add one of your paintings to my living room.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much for a lovely comment! So glad it helps....it can be alot to take in but some simple tips and info can go along way! Thank you for your support!!:)

[@techoasys]

@@tomshepherdartist the compliments are well earned. You are the art instructor everyone wishes they had, and lucky for me, I found your channel on the suggestions page. I especially enjoyed your breakdown of the drawings in many of your videos too because I am naturally intimidated by having to sketch; however, your emphasis on expressive art and form are slowly building my confidence and serving as a reminder that not everything has to be *perfect* rather it's the *imperfections* within each sketch and painting that bring out the beauty into making them art for what it was intended to be: free-spirited and fun! :)

[@omarims]

awesome 👏

[@user-du8gi4fk9k]

grate lesson. i learned a lot.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Great...thank you!!:)

[@valeriet4114]

Hey Tom. Just found your channel and love your painting style. It is just what I needed to see because while I love to paint colorful birds, I am trying so hard to loosen up. Going to try some of your techniques and hopefully they will help. Time for a Tom Shepherd Art binge watching session :-) P.S. Awesome eye quick tip - it looked like magic the way they took form.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!! So glad you’re enjoying them!! ...those eyes don’t need much to pop!!;)

[@somethingnormal9714]

Nice! I've been waiting for this one 😊😊

[@tomshepherdartist]

Something Normal :) hope you enjoy...might do another one soon...they’re so much fun!!

[@purpletreetherapy7116]

Dear Tom, I've recently found your channel while looking for bird tutorials and, as a beginner watercolourist with no formal art training, (not even way back when at school!), I have to say I am really impressed with how you communicate the basics as well a the more complex issues to do with painting in watercolours! It made me wonder whether you were an actual teacher?! Well, having binge-watched a lot of your videos over the wkd I believe you are :). Thank you so much for creating this channel. I also really love the watermelon bite size videos (complete with the funky music!). I noticed a peacock picture in the background on one of them and wondered if you painted that too, and if so, is that a tutorial? Lastly, you've made me start reflecting on what kind of watercolour artist I want to be. Thanks again!

[@xVentax]

I think you should know - when I clicked on your instagram link, it takes me to a Tom Shepherd in Australia who’s selling trainers! New to your work today btw and loving it. Thanks for sharing your skills.

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...thanks so much for that, I better check that and change it!!:)

[@trishking4423]

These are great! I wonder if it would be possible for you to show your pallet at times; I'm a rank amateur and I would love to see some of your mixing.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks Trish! Definitely. I've managed to start doing that in some of my most recent ones and I hope to improve on that further as I go...I know it's a massive help!!:)...thanks for your support!! T

[@amandad3595]

Another really helpful video. Could you paint a bird with a yellow belly at some point (blue tit for example)? It's a constant struggle to paint the areas of the belly in shadow without going too dark. thanks again for all your great videos.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Sorry for slow response! I missed this comment completely. I don;t know if you've seen, the most recent one in series is a blue tit. I cover painting yellow in shadow...it is very hard!! But hopefully blue tit video helps!!:)

[@jubileej1629]

Is this hot press or cold press? Lovely painting ❤

[@vahinisuresh621]

Thanks.How to do birds legs?

[@tomshepherdartist]

It was only a matter it time before done asked. Ive been found out. I’m notorious amongst my students fir avoiding painting legs and feet (ha!!)...great topic though. I will get to it !

[@tilliefowler7963]

What paper and paint do you recommend?

[@tomshepherdartist]

I particularly like Winsor and Newton professional paper plus Holbein paints. Thank you. T

[@sandradonofrio413]

What about legs and feet?

[@tomshepherdartist]

I generally only tend to paint those if there is a branch or something they are sitting on, and even then as simply as possible, and often they are obscured from view, as they would be for this pose...I've found them a great way to ruin a perfectly good painting if not done very simply :)

[@helix-occam]

The painting is so beautiful but the noise of the brushes been splashed about was very distracting and slightly annoying. I had to turn the sound off.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you. I will have that in mind for future videos. T

[@harshavardhanj2970]

Sir can I get your mail ID ?