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How To Paint A Tree Using Watercolor - A Beginner Lesson.

Here is a detailed instruction of how I paint a realistic tree. Although my style is not necessarily yours, it would be a good starting point.

The clusters of leaves that I talked about in the first part of this lesson, each get their own light. Some are mostly in full sun with only little shadowing below. Others are in full shade, and are painted with pretty much one color and one value. In between are leaf clusters with very interesting shadow patterns. I paint leaf shadows a very blue green rather than a darker green. Its a pretty advanced concept, but its covered in my lesson "Shadows In The Landscape".

Every tree has "sky holes". The are less likely to be in the middle where the tree is densest, but as we get to the edges there are those holes. The tree holes are more prominent in spring and fall, and less so in the summer, but a tree without holes is a lollipop.

A very important trick in painting a tree is connecting it to the ground. Just soften the edge of the base. That almost always is the touch you need. Finally, don't forget the shadow the tree casts on the ground. It too has "holes".

You want to take Part 1 before this one.


MATERIALS LIST

Hover Or Click
A Color For Information

Sedimentary Warm        

Burnt Sienna

A sedimentary color; sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Viridian

A sedimentary color; sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Pthalocyanine Blue

A "warm" (greenish) blue.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

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Pyrrol Red

A "warm" (orangish) red.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

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Arylide Yellow FGL

A "warm" (orangish) yellow.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

There is not an industry standard name for this color. I am offering DaVincis Brand name.

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Yellow Ocher

A sedimentary color.

sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Cerulean Blue

A sedimentary color.

Sediments quickly offering a mottled or shimmery look to the final (wash)

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Ultramarine Blue

A cool (purplish) blue.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly, theoretically yielding a uniform final (wash).

Actually Ultramarine Blue "flocculates" (gathers in clumps) so we only get a fairly smooth (wash)

Sadly, it's the only purplish blue thats light-fast and available to artists.

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Alizarin Crimson
( Quinacridone )

A cool (purplish) red.

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

n fact, Alizarine Crimson (a very early man made pigment) lost favor when it was found non light-fast.

Today we replace it it with a better version of the same color called Quinacdridone Red.

Nevertheless, manufacturers still call it Alizerine Crimson.

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Arylide Yellow Deep

A cool (greenish) yellow

A non sedimentary color settles out smoothly yielding a uniform finish (wash)

There is not an industry standard name for this color. I am offering the DaVincis Brand name.

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Cool        
Brushes

Brushes

I use mostly "Kolinsky" (Highest quality) red sable brushes. I also have some nylon brushes that are pretty amazing. They are on the high priced side of nylon brush prices.

Brushes do the actual painting. If the brush cannot do it ; neither can you. If you are a beginner, you should watch my videos All About Brushes.
and
Watercolor Brushes – What to look for when buying them.

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Papers

watercolor Paper

I use 140 pound cold pressed paper.

I buy "full sheets". Everyone will know that means 22" x 30". They are actually a little oversized which is true for all "mold made" papers.

Heavier thicknesses than 140 pound are nice but more expensive. "Rough" as opposed to cold pressed is also nice.

"Arches" brand; actual spelled D'Arches by the manufacturer.

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Palettes

Palettes

PALETTE Has Two Meanings

1) The selection of paints available to the artist.

2) The surface upon which the paints are stored and mixed.

In this case, the paint holder is a cut down ice cube tray. It stores, along with a wet sponge, in a zip lock bag. That keeps the paint fresh.

For a mixing surface I use a flat sheet of white plastic.

Another good one is clear plastic with white paper under it. A matte surface is preferable to a shiny one.

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Coloring Book, First Watercolor Lesson, Washes And Values. Coloring Book
First Watercolor Lesson, Washes And Values.
How to mix all the colors from just six. Color For Beginners - How to mix all the colors. Captain Watertcolor demonstrating how to draw trees How To paint trees - The Fundamental Concepts. Captain Watertcolor demonstrating how to paint trees How To Paint A Tree Using Watercolor - A Beginner Lesson. Preparing watercolor paper for wet in wet painting. Preparing watercolor paper for wet in wet painting Captain Watercolor demonstrates how to paint a barn with watercolorss - A beginner landscape lesson. Painting A Barn - A beginner landscape lesson. Captain Watercolor demonstrates painting  Sunrises / Sunsets - How to paint the sky. Watercolor Painting
Sunrise / Sunset
(Dawn / Dusk)
Part 1 Painting The Sky.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates painting  Sunrises / Sunsets - How to paint the islands Watercolor Painting
Sunrise /:65px Sunset
(Dawn / Dusk)
Part 2 Painting The Islands.
Captain Watercolor demonstrates painting  Sunrises / Sunsets - How to paint the lighthouse Watercolor Painting
Sunrise / Sunset
(Dawn / Dusk)
Part 3 Painting The Lighthouse
Captain Watercolor demonstrates how to paint a snow scene wtih an Aspen tree and its shadows. Birch Trees In The Snow. - A Watercolor Scraping Technique Lesson

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