Watercolour Bird TUTORIAL - How to paint a Blue Tit

A cheeky garden favourite here in the UK, the Blue Tit...sooo fun to paint too!!:)
The colours for this painting were all from Holbein:
Pyrole Red
Prussian Blue
Maganese Blue (happily replace the Pthalo or juts use Prussian)
Imidazilone Yellow
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 :)
/ 37778510
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.tomshepher...
/ 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. Garden Birds. UK birds. British Birds. Blue tit

[@rezajamshidi8685]

Teaching is an art. You are not only a great artist but a great teacher. Thanks a bunch.🎉

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much! Extremely kind!!☺️🙌🏼

[@momochop3754]

This is one of the best tutorials on watercolour painting I have come across lately. Look forward to more videos from Tom

[@tomshepherdartist]

Ahh..thank you! Very kind:) thanks for your support!! T

[@helentang7391]

I love how energetic and intuitive your brush strokes are!

[@VirginiaSibley]

Loving your confident but delicate brushwork. I wish I could see you mixing your colors too.

[@Hildi.]

I agree with the compliment, but also with the disappointment that the color palette and the color mixing are not visible.

[@alisonhendry2928]

Oh oh oh I love when KZbin brings me a new and glorious artist to follow and celebrate. I am going to binge watch!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Brilliant!!:) lovely comment, thank you!! Hope you enjoy :)

[@alisonhendry2928]

Two years after KZbin gave me this video I am watching it again! Absolutely brilliant tips! As always your brush skills amaze me and I love how you admit to a boo boo, then fix it and take away the ahhh yikes feeling. I also appreciate how you are thinking as you work with no carved into rock idea of what you want the painting to do. I need to adopt this so will watch more of your videos again. I will troll for more recent ones also… I wonder how you fell off my radar.

[@lindsaypm]

I'm so thrilled I found this series!!!

[@tomshepherdartist]

ahhh thank you!!!:)

[@rosannako4694]

Love the way you explain how you create the lovely painting -- subtle and spontaneous.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much for a lovely comment!! T

[@joankiely3614]

Boy……how good are you!!! I have just found your channel & im so happy that I have as I can now go back & watch all your tutorials. Many thanks, cheers 😊❤️💕🥰😍😘

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi Joan...thanks for such a lovely comment! Thanks joining me over here :)

[@jeanneoreilly2903]

So natural and free...love the bright colors

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much for a lovely comment !!:) T

[@o2bsam]

That mustardy yellow color was super hard to get right! Thanks Tom! 🙏

[@tomshepherdartist]

Really tricky colour...sensitive balance of the primaries!! :) thank you

[@lesleyevangelides5935]

Wow wow wow .... now I know which way I hope my watercolours will go to

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much! Lovely to hear ☺️🙌🏼

[@jenniferspotten915]

Absolutely beautiful Tom! I love birds and watercolor too! Thank you so very much for sharing this!👍 Going to try this!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much!!:) so pleased you are enjoying them!!:) T

[@gazzabart]

Excellent you are a true artist love hearing how you think as you go along packed with tips 👍😀

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks for a lovely comment! Really appreciate the support ☺️🙌🏼 T

[@carolalford8156]

What a fabulous tutorial full of amazing tips can’t wait to have a go thank you Tom

[@tomshepherdartist]

Ahh, thank you. So glad you enjoyed it! Good luck :) T

[@charmde2008]

Really therapeutic to watch and very helpful as well. So beautiful. Thank you so much.

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...thank you so much!!:)

[@rebeccawong1]

I just love your bold strokes 💗

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!!:)

[@cecilialofgren1396]

What a fantastic handle of water/paint ratio you have! Very skilled!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you for a lovely comment!! :) T

[@bmorgan7559]

Just discovered your series, these are so lovely! I'm trying to loosen up my paintings a little, I'll definitely be watching the rest of your videos- beautiful work!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much! T

[@ladyhecate9450]

I am the opposite. I like realism...like in botanical flowers.

[@nancyborchert9229]

Really great lesson! One of the best I’ve seen. Really enjoyed the drawing tips! Must find more of your videos and join your art school! Thank you, Tom.

[@ayferdogan3499]

You love birds!! So do I.. And I like watercolor 💗

[@tomshepherdartist]

Fantastic!!;) you’re in the right place then ☺️🙌🏼

[@christineHoxsey]

Wonderful, so glad I found your channel!❤️❤️❤️

[@ritaharker8792]

I’ve only just found your channel and I’m so glad I have. I really love the way you depict birds; simply beautiful.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much for the kind words, and so glad you find the channel. Kind Regards, T

[@Draw_together]

Beautiful drawing! Great video!

[@allysonberry8708]

Love the colors in this bird. The background is perfect. Thanks for the drawing tips.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!!:)

[@tanadarko6991]

This is nice. Great to see your thought process and brush strokes, how you approach it. I find it really helpful if you can drop your reference photo up in the corner. Then you can see how you're interpreting the colors. Cheers!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much!! So glad you’re enjoying it...definitely, I’ve started doing that with recent ones. Thank you for the feedback :)

[@Maginty8]

Really enjoyed that! Looking back over my bird paintings I can see how dull and muddy they are.

[@laxmihegde1458]

Thank you for important tips. Very clear demo. I like your painting style.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much for a lovely comment!!:) T

[@rihamel-ashry7565]

It is an amazing tutorial. I've enjoyed the process so much and of course learned a lot!!

[@tomshepherdartist]

thank you..so pleased to hear this!! T

[@jessstarreveld]

This is great, thanks so much! Loved watching and hearing your process, with your focus on keeping things simple. I also loved the methodology of general but accurate shapes and angles first, followed by layers of very simple detail to add depth and distinction. I'll have to apply this process to some Aussie birds 🙂👍

[@tomshepherdartist]

So glad you enjoyed it and got something out of it! Thank you for a lovely comment...and enjoy painting those Aussie birds!! You have so many wonderful ones!!!☺️🙌🏼

[@annejameson3425]

Beautiful!!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!:) T

[@roxanapayne6461]

Love your watercolour style. Thank you for these video tutorials 😊🥰

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...thanks so much for the support!:) T

[@MaryJamesonMetroKC]

Thank you, Tom! I just discovered your painting and it is exactly what I need to learn..a looser more intuitive style of paintig! Your understanding of watercolor, as well as drawing, is outstanding. I am headed now to check out your Patreon site.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much for such a lovely comment!! Kind Regards, T

[@freepal1]

Terrific, I really enjoyed this. Great, easy to understand step by step guidance, thank you!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it. T

[@simondo1027]

Thank you Tom. You make it look so easy!!

[@hummerlady54]

Thank you for the reference photo and line drawing. I'll practice.

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...Good luck!!:)

[@user-ko8hp1rc6y]

I have psinted the blue tit a few times using your instructions. I wish to progresd to paintt more birds. I love the way you teach.

[@pamelaspainting]

Great video

[@krissaltlakecity9022]

Thank you Tom Lovely bird

[@arlenemurphy804]

Tom just found you. I totally enjoyed your video. And love birds...love how you put the loose background in. Looking forward to watching more of your videos. Thank you.Arlene

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much Arlene, so Fuad you enjoyed it. T

[@miahughes1450]

Thanks for the tutorial Tom. I don’t think my bird will be attracting a mate any time soon. But I am learning loads.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Haha, well apparently there's someone out there for everyone, so let's hope it's the case with birds too! My pleasure, I am so pleased you are enjoying them! T

[@stacylaine]

Love your brushwork! Great demo & tips :))

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much!!:) T

[@yifat120]

Thank you for great tutorial. I never heard about this bird but it's so nice

[@lindathaxton1994]

Fun & a good lesson! Thank you

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!:) T

[@ishbelstrachan6011]

A most delightful, interesting and informative video Thank you

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much!!☺️ T

[@DutchCreekRanch1]

Beautiful!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much :) T

[@conniemesce4093]

Love it, so cute!

[@sharlayeates-terry1310]

On occasion could you please pop the ref pic up with your sketch. Your are awesome and very helpful to me as I learn watercolors ❤

[@stacys447]

Super fun. Thank you!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!:)

[@sandrasteadman1077]

Just found you Sam your series is wonderful and so easy to follow thank you for so much the detail beautiful work

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much for a lovely comment and the support! T

[@esthervisser6639]

Thank you so much! I am a pastel artist and birds are one of my favorite subjects. But I just ordered watercolor and I can't wait to try it out!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Oo great stuff!! I have seen some artists use pastels and watercolours together with really wonderful results...not birds but if you get a chance to google Ray Balkwill you can see his use of the two together :)...thanks for the support. And good luck. Any questions when your getting into them, feel free to ask :) T

[@esthervisser6639]

@@tomshepherdartist Thank you so much!

[@snowiejames]

I really enjoyed this and you’ve inspired me to try painting some birds.

[@tomshepherdartist]

That’s so great to hear!!! Thank you. T

[@StephanieLynneMI]

Brillant

[@jeaninestark2731]

Thank you, I am making a watercolor bird journal and your tutorial will help so much.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Oh wonderful! So glad it helps!:) T

[@lucasmyint8140]

Thanks for your good demonstration.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you! T

[@debragallardo5754]

I so enjoyed the video, it was very helpful! Thank you!

[@ellencha5975]

Thanks for the drawing lesson.

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...T

[@netacarter6665]

Great artist!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!:)

[@rhondacalabro867]

Have just discovered your channel and love your artistry and teaching style….just might have to be a patron! Thanks for sharing your skills. 🤗

[@vickimarch279]

Loved this. Thankyou

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure, thank you :)

[@chefwannabe1]

Excellent tutorial.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!:)

[@xVentax]

Fabulous! I can draw ok, I’m no expert by any means, but I am able to get the outline quite easily. As someone who’s always drawn in a (not quite hyper) realistic fashion, my problem is knowing when to stop. Then, with watercolour, which I’m very new to, I have a similar difficulty - I just keep adding more until I have a completely overworked mess. Your tutorials are definitely helping me to analyse where I’m going wrong. Thank you.

[@tomshepherdartist]

That’s great to hear!!...the saying “less is more” is so applicable to water colour...I still go too far myself sometimes. But you definitely get used to holding back and doing less as time goes on...it’s amazing how little we need to create a good painting...and a little hit of detail in one or two spots to scratch the itch can incredibly effective!!:)

[@jillkent6134]

Very helpful I have learned a lot just from one video will definitely watch more 😊

[@redbag6276]

Wow beautiful ❤️❤️😍

[@tomshepherdartist]

Redbag thank you!!!:)

[@lesleyhughes9461]

Great tutorial - you have lovely clarity in your presentation I am going to learn a lot!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you for a lovely comment. So glad you got something out of it:) T

[@samclarke393]

Great exercise Tom, I'm gradually getting the hang of simplifying things. The tips section is really useful it also provides a break which stops the inevitable "fiddling" at the later stages of painting. Now going to try draw and paint a w/c blue tit from one of my many bird photos.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Sam Clarke thanks for a great comment!! Very glad to hear it’s helping!!...simplification is definitely the key!!;) and stop yourself fiddling of course...we’re all guilty of that! ...good luck!!

[@kerrylaw100]

Fantastic tutorial bravo 👏

[@jolocke7748]

Love this one

[@barbara6204]

Lovely!

[@citlallileon6111]

Beautiful! hermoso ! Thank you for tutorial

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...thanks so much!!:)

[@CLOUDSINTHEKITCHEN]

and again, you are amazing x

[@tomshepherdartist]

thats very kind! Thank you :)

[@analuciamendonca136]

Amazing👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you :)

[@simonwebster8216]

I really enjoy these videos. Thank you :)

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!:) my pleasure ;)

[@darrenbirchall7826]

Excellent tutorial, thank you

[@tomshepherdartist]

Darren Birchall thanks Darren! Much appreciated :) T

[@omarims]

marvelous 👍

[@tomshepherdartist]

thanks so much!!:)

[@chrisbufler4275]

Learned so much. Mahalo

[@tomshepherdartist]

Great to hear, thank you so much!!:)

[@MegaRaindrops1]

great lesson!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks Renata!! This was a really fun one :)

[@tma4446]

Thanks for the video. I’m going to try you techniques. I just did a bird and it turned out cartoonish. I definitely fuss too much and need to loosen up my brush strokes. I’m glad you show your process because sometimes you are afraid to go darker or put a background in. So thanks again.

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much! We all fuss a bit too much sometimes , ha!...often cartoonish can be not quite enough light and shadow and/or too big a head or eyes...this has always been my problem in past (still is sometimes) hope that helps. T

[@lyndaconstant]

wow! Beautiful, thank you for the tutorial. I just received my very first water color kit. never work with this medium before. Can't wait to start

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!!!:) ooo exciting..good luck. It’s a wonderful medium. Any questions, just let me know :) T

[@lyndaconstant]

@@tomshepherdartist 😊

[@lyndaconstant]

@@tomshepherdartist just finished my first bird, a female cardinal! Very difficult I need practice! Have you paint a Cardinal on one of your tutorial? tk

[@tomshepherdartist]

@@lyndaconstant Hi Lynda, I haven't yet but it has just been requested, so it is on the list!! Just keep going with them...some will work, some won't, I still get plenty that don't work out. Just keep practicing and painting :)

[@Lucienne666]

Awesome ! Thank you ! :)

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much!!:)

[@rezajamshidi8685]

❤

[@marilynfrench-st.george2365]

Great thanks!!

[@Diego_SanCA]

Good content

[@patriciadawn4067]

Thank you, really excellent demonstration. I would appreciate being able to see you mix the paint. I'm amazed you can get such fine lines with a large brush like that. I have a problem getting fine lines. Patricia

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi Patricia. Thanks so much. I am trying to get the palette in much more in current videos for that exact reason. It does make difference! I love my brushes, they ar enice and big, but with the right consistency of paint they come to a wonderful fine point....its a mixture of brush, paint consistency, and also, if you are using slightly thicker paint, taking some time to load the brush by pushing it down and flattening on one side, then on the other so that you a re bring it to a very very fine edge, can really help with fine lines too!!

[@patriciadawn4067]

Thank you, I appreciate your reply, I practiced making fine lines today with some of my bigger brushes. I have some very small brushes and maybe they just don't hold enough paint to actually paint a line. Your videos are very good to watch. Have you thought of creating one where you show different brush techniques, like what you mentioned of rolling the brush and flattening etc. Also what you can get out of a large brush vs. a small one. I'm having quite a challenge with that. I plan to paint all your birds, they're beautiful. I don't have your exact colors but I think I can get close.

[@jennyc1846]

Greetings from Western Australia Tom. Have just become a subscriber and look forward to many more interesting tutorials. I love how a couple of splashes of background quickly brought the bird to the foreground. It would be good when you say you are having trouble mixing a colour if you could show us the process on your palette please. A great example of 'less is more'...may I ask why you didnt finish off with a foot? I'll be back :) Terrific!!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi Jenny! Thanks so much. This was a really fun one :) I will definitely so more palette in future videos. Ahh, feet...sometimes I just say they don’t really add anything to a painting or detract from head, other times I might say that they are just really hard to paint well and can totally ruin a painting, so easier left off (ha!!;) T

[@salongyt]

Thank you for sharing a wonderful detailed watercolor loose tutorial ! I’ve been looking for a video like this for a long time! Excellent work! Looking forward for more videos!😊👍🏻👍🏻

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much☺️🙌🏼 really appreciate, and glad you found it!! Lots more to come . T

[@kodd10]

I love how you make strokes, its kinda dynamic?

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you so much. I’m always trying my best to create exciting brushstrokes. T

[@caseystorm4999]

Lovely work Tom. Thankyou. I noticed the beautiful green woodpecker in the background of your intro. Is there a line drawing for this. Id love to give it a go. Take care 👍

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thanks so much, Casey! The line drawing for the Blue Tit is linked in the description, however I am afraid I do not have aline drawing for the woodpecker. That was a little demo piece at a gallery :) Thank you for the support! T

[@stephrashid6513]

You know I never would have thought to use other primary colours to darken places instead of adding some black (pretty obvious that I'm a newbie, I know 😂). Gosh, it has so much more of a natural effect... I'm definitely doing that from now on 😍

[@tomshepherdartist]

Not at all a newbie thing;)...black is great, but so easy to over use it, n it can make everything dull and muddy if it starts creeping in too much...If you can get a nice dark with primaries you get much clearer colours, a nicer look to the paint, and the less colours on your palette the better. so if we can get away with leaving black off the palette...all the better!!!:)...thanks for watching and the comments!!:) T

[@stephrashid6513]

@@tomshepherdartist thank you for the reply. Yes I have noticed the muddy/dull look when using straight black so I'm excited to try out other ways of darkening my paintings 😄

[@user-ko8hp1rc6y]

Will you be painting a British starling in the near future? Thank you, Joy

[@Wal48]

Lovely result and very informative detailed tutorial. Yellow is difficult to show in shadow. I keep trying to depict daffodils, so difficult, sometimes works, more often doesn’t though!

[@tomshepherdartist]

Thank you!! Oh yes, the hardest colour i would say! Purple (a touch or add a touch of red and bleu to yellow) will darken in a neutral way. But for daffodils I find this little dull...so I tend to start with a neutral grey but then tint it a little warmer with more red and yellow, or a touch cooler with yellow and blue....very hard for me in watercolour for me!!:)

[@sumyspaintings]

Thnx for ur videos

[@tomshepherdartist]

My pleasure...thank you for the support!!

[@mijolobo]

Hello Tom, new here. Enjoying your skills, and I'm curious. Do you have a tutorial on painting a blue jay?

[@hrhosmer]

Would love to have you paint a Galah...rose breasted cockatoo. Many images on Pinterest. Would be happy to send you photos of my sweet bird.

[@rhondacalabro867]

💚💙

[@tomshepherdartist]

:)

[@wendysanders781]

Hi Tom I’m loving your video’s- not been brave enough to try myself yet. Please can I ask if you could show how you mix your colours - like the shadow in the yellow parts of the bird? I can hear you mixing the colours but would love to see what you do as well. Thank you so much for giving your time to these videos

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi Wendy! Thanks for a lovely comment :)...absolutely, showing the colour mixing is on my list for 2021 videos...I know it will be a huge help!!:) thanks so much for your support!!!:) kind regards, Tom

[@jeantrines8652]

Hi Tim Can you share what brushes you use. All the best and happy New Year Jean

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi Jean. My general brushes are a larger size 18 Escoda Ultimo Mop; a smaller Jackson's Raven Mop, size 0; a couple of small rounds, size 8 & 10, generally pro-arte of W&N faux sable. I have also recently started using the W&N Faux squireel, medium size quill. Kind Regards T

[@rebeccawong1]

I had to hold my breaths so many times during the process it was difficult to image, slowly I am learning and hopefully one day, I can paint at ease .,, then perhaps I won’t enjoy it that much????? I am confused 😔

[@tomshepherdartist]

haha i haven't got to a point where I feel totally at ease yet, juts more comfortable with not feeling at ease (haha!) ...but I agree, I think part of the fun of watercolour is that we are often not fully in control and totally comfortable...and I think that's ok:) But it will get "easier" the more paintings you do :) T

[@kasiasoto7561]

Hi , I would like to start with painting however bfr I do all this with water paint I need help with drawing of the bird .. do you have any video of that 1st stage ? Thanks

[@tomshepherdartist]

Hi there...I don’t have a video of the drawing I’m afraid. More recent videos yes. If you follow the link in the description you can find a line drawing to copy:)

[@tikaartnomade1615]

Bonjour c'est tres interessant, mais pourriez vous mettre des sous titres en francais ? J'aimerais beaucoup comprendre tout ce que vous dites ! Merci d'avance 😁

[@tomshepherdartist]

Bonjour. Merci! I will see if I can work out to do French subtitles!!:)