Watercolour

Tom began his artistic journey creating custom artwork on guitars using graffiti pens. But it was the move to a brush and more traditional media that truly opened the door to his world as an artist – and from that point on, there was no turning back.Today, Tom paints a wide range of subjects, although he is continually drawn back to his earliest love of wildlife, and in particular, birds. His work is known for its loose, expressive, carefree style, with a strong focus on light, atmosphere, and confident painterly brushwork.Alongside his own painting, Tom is a highly regarded and much sought-after tutor. He teaches in-person through residential workshops, painting holidays, and even Art Safaris in Zambia; as well as online, where he shares his approach with students from all over the world through his School of Watercolour (www.schoolofwatercolour.com). Tom is an ambassador for Daniel Smith watercolour paints, Panart brushes, and Baohong paper.Tom’s work is collected internationally, and he has been a highly commended finalist in the prestigious Wildlife Artist of the Year competition on several occasions. Alongside his painting, he supports conservation by contributing a portion of his teaching and artwork sales to UK-based projects.Find Tom:On his website: www.schoolofwatercolour.comOn Instagram: @tomshepherdartist

• Introduction 6Core principles 10Shape 16Shape and drawing 18Shape: Still Life 22Think about it your own way 28Tone 30What does tone do? 32Tonal values and paint consistency 36Tone and process 40Tone: Lion 42Colour 46Colour and enjoyment 48Colour mixing 52Colour and tone 60Subtlety and balance 64Colour: Puffin 66Edges 72What are edges? 74Placing edges 82Why have a variety of edges? 88Edges: Landscape 92Exploring and playing 98Portraits and character 100Musician 110Light and atmosphere 116Looseness and abstraction 126Streets 138Design and composition 144Afterword 158Index 160