SKILL PRACTICE 3: PAINT A POEM, AS LOVELY AS A TREE......

    This practice takes us outdoors and paints with broad stroke, layered washes and whatever you'd feel brave in trying. So, let's begin with a tree trunk, add 4 or more main branches and split these into 2-3 thinner ones. Let the end branches split again into smaller, thinner endings. Or, look outside a window and study the structure of a live tree and adapt it to your drawing. Mixing a light value yellow/brown, sketch the tree form loosely in paint, gesture style.

    Layer one begins with 3 light trunk and branch values: a light tan, pale yellow-orange, and a darker gray brown. The tan can outline the tree trunk and some of the branches. The darker brown can emphasize one side of the trunk and gracefully sketch tree branches and endings. The yellow-orange will warm up the middle of the trunk and some of the wider branch areas. We're on our way!

    Three light values of green are mixed-- yellow-green (1), green (2), and blue-green (3). Using a flat edged or round brush, place short strokes of the lightest color spacing them around, over and within the branches. While the color is still damp, proceed in a similar manner with the 2nd color. Let dry a bit. Decide where the darkest areas would be and broad stroke the blue-green there, emphasizing a bit more where shadows might be seen behind branches, and in-between the other 2 hues. Let dry.

    Lots of decisions to make here: emphasize all parts? only selected parts? aim for middle, dark or very dark contrasts and where to put them? This view shows the trunk having more emphasis, the leaves kept to a "watery" look with only some darkened deeply.

    Three new values for leaves are mixed: bright green, blue-green and purple- green. The darker values were painted toward the edges while the green brightens up the middle. Remember, as colors are wet painted into each other, new values result creating more subtle, neutral blends. This is the excitement of wash blends--watching the new values emerge and deciding to keep or adjust them with clear water or other colors. An alternative is layering again, where the undercolors show through uncovered parts.

    Now we give attention to the trunk, mixing a darker yellow-brown and light purple-brown contrasts. The lighter value overlays some parts of trunk and branches. The darker value defines shadow areas in both.

    While the trunk is drying, we go back to the leaves. Two greens are mixed: bright,dark green and a blue-green-black applying them where darker contrasts are desired. Light pointillism would work well. Re-apply some of the same colors used in the first layers. This creates a darker blend in the original strokes. A third, darker blend could be spattered for accent. Note that the tree branches are not completely covered. Should you desire to add more, be sure to leave some "open" spaces that suggest sky areas in the distance.

    The final washes of purple-brown in the central area and dark red-brown-black edges complete the trunk contrasts. Dry brush is a strong emphasis here where layers would be softer. Which would you prefer? Some of these hues can also be repeated in the leaves and branches as well, lightening them with clear water when needed.

    Now all that's left is the background. Since that wasn't of primary concern, it wasn't done first. So, go ahead---experiment around the tree on your own!

    For another experience, practice the tree without leaves! See tree 2 and try it on watercolor paper!

    The tree is a more complicated study than the daisy, but it permits more opportunities for color mixing, blending, and using layer and broad stroke techniques. Structure is very important here---from the tree form to good value mixing and patient application. Color mixing is crucial in any painter's art and one of the most difficult things for art novices to learn is NOT to use color "out of the bottle or box". Learning color relationships, increasing intensity or neutralizing it is part of the painter's craftsmanship. Take 9 x12 paper, an ordinary box of watercolors and blend, blend, blend. Your next painting will have the benefit of this learning. Check out the COLOR introduction for some basics.