Monday, February 25, 2008

Watercolor Painting - Trees - Demo Part 2

Okay kids...welcome to part two of my watercolor demo - Painting trees. My way.

Step 4 - When I have the shadow area of the tree the right shape, I make a thin wash of a yellow - you can use a cool or warm...whichever suits the color scheme you've chosen - and I wash it over the white part of the tree, dabbing with a paper towel here and there to keep some white, and not have it a completely even wash. I carry the wash over the edge of the shaded part too, but not over the whole thing. Gets too muddy.



Step 4 - light yellow wash

Next, I mix up a really dark dark using Fr. Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna and maybe some of the red...really nice and dark. I use this to define the knots and things. I like a lot of contrast in my trees, but you may want to do it lighter...it's your tree after all. Just dab it on using lines, dots and smudges until you like how it looks. Remember to make sure that there is variety in spaces between the dark areas, and variety in the shapes. It's easy to forget, and do the same shape over and over again. I usually have to go back and change things to keep the variety.
Put some dark lines and dots on the light side of the tree too, making sure they follow the curve of the tree trunk.

After I add the darks, I go in with some pure color...Cad Orange and Aliz Crimson. I put quite a few dots and lines of it around the darkest parts...it's about the same color as that fungusy stuff you see on trees...and it looks fantastic next to the dark blue!

Then I hop around with a brush of Aliz Crimson, putting dots and lines here and there until I like it. I also go in with some pure Fr. Ultramarine, and some more purple, adding it where it's needed.

The last thing I do is, using a very small brush and some purple, make little dots along the area where the shadow turns to light. From a distance this helps the gradation from shadow to light look a little more gradual. I put in dots of different colors just to make it interesting close up too.


And that's about it! You can fiddle with these until the hairs fall outta your brush, always finding another spot to put in more color...but really...it's done!

I hope you find this of interest...and of some help. If you have any questions, please ask. I've likely forgotten something...and if I don't know the answer...I'll make something up!! Aw...just kiddin'...

Please leave me a comment telling me what you think of this demo. It will be very helpful to me for teaching my watercolor classes. I want to do a good job. Thanks!

Happy Painting!

28 comments:

Sandy Maudlin said...

You are amazing! This deo is really great. And you have way too much patience. Keep it up!

About said...

Thanks Sandy - I hope it's interesting to some...I think it's a fun way to paint...it's just scribbles and dots!

Nava said...

Wow, it's fascinating to see them up close, as while they look beautifully gray, they are actually bursting with color!

About said...

Thanks Nava - That is the fun for me...when people look at them closely and see all the purdy colors! I like surprises!

Joan said...

Tracy, If you can do this demo so well here, you'll do a great job in the watercolor class. I really enjoyed seeing this, probably becuse I love your tree painting so much. Super demo!

Watercolors by Susan Roper said...

Wow Tracy! I found your blog through Rhonda's blog and I am glad I did. This looks fantastic and the next time I have LOTS of time to work on something I will give this a try. All those marks! They sure are effective, though.

Thanks for sharing your technique,
Susan Roper

About said...

Thanks Joan - I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to teaching a class...sharing what I've learned.

Thank You Susan - I'm glad you found me too! This really isn't hard or time consuming...honest! It's just scribbles. And it's fun!
Stop by again!

Ron Morrison said...

I'm contracting my trees out to you from now on.

About said...

Thanks Ron; and all my cars are yours. (Hmmm...should I charge by the dot...?)

RH Carpenter said...

You are going to be a great watercolor teacher! You are patient and you give instruction clearly and with a sense a humor, too :) Love your trees and this demo is worth every dot and dash!

About said...

Thank you Rhonda! I'm glad that everything came through with clarity - and the humor is important too, I think. If it ain't fun, what's the point!!
I hope you try this out, and let me see what you make of it!!

Dawn said...

well you dont need me to tell you your demo and trees are great! but I will anyway! lovely Demo Tracy! love your trees too. I see you over at Rhonda's and Sandy's blog and thought I would take a peek, glad I did! Nice job.

About said...

Thanks Dawn - And of course I need you to tell me! It's great to hear what others think of my 'stuff'.
Glad you stopped by...come again!

Suzanne McDermott said...

Tracy! Your tree demo and the preceding tree paintings are phenomenal - really beautiful work. Thanks!

About said...

Thanks so much Suzanne...glad you stopped by to take a look. I enjoy your paintings so much. Blogging has been a fantastic way to 'meet' fantastic artists. Come again!

Clive said...

Looks great, Tracy, from a distance there is tone and form and the close up reveals all; beautiful colour. Best of luck with the class, it should go well, you did a good job of explaining yourself!

About said...

Thanks Clive! I'm looking forward to sharing what I know...glad it makes sense to everyone. I'm trying some other subjects in this style...see if it translates. It's just too darned much fun!!

laura said...

It's a great demo, Tracy. Very easy to follow and well illustrated--and you make it sound like I could do it too! You have a very nice, full-of-possibities tone, perfect for a teacher!

About said...

I just got home from teaching my drawing class...and this was a wonderful comment to come home to! That is exactly what I want to convey...the possibilities!!! Everyone has them...and I want to help them find them.
Thanks for that!

Jose Antonio G. Villarrubia said...

Beautiful!!!!
Un saludo.

Nick said...

I don't know how I got here, but I'm glad I did - good post!!!

Daniel GarcĂ­a said...

Very interesting your way of painting.I need to practise with watercolor.
I´m going to link to you. Thanks

About said...

Thanks Nick & Daniel!
I'll link to you too Daniel...I visit often, through William Moores site....love your stuff!

Nader Shenouda said...

I think its a very nice way to paint... I like the dots that makes up as a whole beautiful trees...I like also the shadows and the lights on these trees.. BRAVO

William K. Moore said...

Excellent Tracy.. you should be able to workshop any week now that the weather is warming. This painting encompasses many watercolor principles and skills. A+ on this one...

Nava said...

So Tracy, where art thou? You've disappeared.

Unknown said...

Colorful Art. I like your work. Very Impressive.

Generic Viagra said...

Interesting how deep you draw, and it's a glad to visit this blog and share with the real artist. With all my respect, I will follow you. Nice artwork.