Painters Online

Start Art 8 35 www.painters-online.co.uk RT START STAGE 1 Using a fine sharpened 2B pencil, draw the trees onto your watercolour paper so that you can quite clearly see the shape and position of the trees. Although my drawing is in pen and ink, you will need to make your drawing in pencil.The trees in the foreground are the tallest; the background trees do not need to be drawn. STAGE 2 Wet the sky area with clean water, using the large detail brush, down to the base of the background trees. Using the same brush and ultramarine, paint the sky onto the still wet surface, painting over the trees so that the blue sky is visible through the branches. Whilst this is still wet, begin with a light wash of cobalt in the centre of the picture, then add a little burnt sienna to the cobalt and some shadow, then using downward strokes, brush the colour to the base of the trees.To paint the hedgerow and the edge of the road use the same mix, adding more burnt sienna. Leave to dry. STAGE 3 Paint the main trees using the medium detail brush and the half rigger brush. Use the medium detail brush and a mixture of ultramarine and burnt umber. Begin at the base of the tree and paint the tree trunk and main branches in the direction in which they grow. Use the half rigger brush to add the thinner branches and twigs.Then add the gate and fence using the same colours and brushes. WINTER The best time to see the true shape of a tree is in winter, when every branch and twig is on show; with limited colours required for painting winter trees, the focus is on their main shape and details. t t t