Nature in Watercolor: Painting Trees

Course Overview

Join watercolor instructor Ronald Pratt and learn how to paint aspen trees and vibrant foliage with captivating form and color. Begin by planning your composition with a value sketch, then block in major elements, mask out negative space, and explore color mixing for rich, expressive hues. Use a variety of watercolor techniques and tools to create stunning foliage, textured grasses, and dramatic backgrounds. Add dimension by manipulating values, detail your aspen trunks, and complete your work with painterly effects for an organic, eye-catching finished piece.

Video Lesson List

1. The Value Study

Meet instructor Ronald Pratt and get an introduction to your vibrant treescape. Start with reference photos and create value sketches to establish your composition and values.

Duration: 16 min

2. Masking

Block in major elements and learn the essential techniques for masking to preserve bright whites in your painting. Discover how to use masking fluid for crisp lights and prevent mistakes later in the process.

Duration: 21 min

3. Mixing Colors

Explore the joy of mixing colors. Get helpful tips for mixing exact hues and values, discover Ronald’s unique palette arrangement to avoid contamination, and practice blending water and paints for vibrant results.

Duration: 21 min

4. The Colorful Wash

Apply your paint-mixing skills as you lay the first colorful wash. Use a variety of brushes and tools, including sponges, then experiment with stippling, scraping, and splattering for unique textures.

Duration: 25 min

5. Adding Detail Over the Wash

After your wash dries, add details by darkening and lightening values, increasing texture, and guiding the viewer’s eye to focal points. Paint dark pines against aspen trunks, and develop sky and ground elements for depth.

Duration: 24 min

6. Removing the Mask & Adding Trunk Details

Remove the liquid mask to reveal protected white aspen trunks. Add shadow and dimension to the trunks, correct any mistakes, and paint details like branches, scrapes, and knots.

Duration: 20 min

7. The Final Pass

Fine-tune your painting by adding foliage, dappled shadows, and softening edges. Loosen up your painting with painterly effects, finish with white gouache, and explore other inspiration from Ronald’s work.

Duration: 24 min