Best-selling author, artist and teacher Matthew Palmer shows you how to use watercolours with confidence to paint a range of animals in simple steps.

Step-by-steps and clearly explained techniques will guide beginners through the methods needed to easily and effectively paint a variety of domestic and wild animals. Matthew expertly demonstrates how to paint realistic eyes, mouths, noses, fur markings and feathers in watercolour, and clearly explains all the techniques needed for the projects, including wet into wet, lifting out, adding shadows and the all-important dry-brush blending.

Full-size, fold-out outline sketches are provided for all projects, allowing you to simply trace the sketches onto watercolour paper and start painting with ease. A clear and comprehensive colour-mixing section is included to allow you to confidently choose and mix the colours you need.

Three starter projects - a simple bird, dolphin and penguin - are the perfect introduction to the basic techniques before moving on to six larger projects, each set in a simple scene: a parrot, cheetah, panda, giraffes, sea turtle and polar bear.

Matthew includes many handy hints and tip for beginners and improving artists alike to fill you with confidence to create your own stunning watercolour animals.