How to Paint Trees in Watercolor - Susie Short 's FREE Watercolor Tips

Painting Trees by "Blotting" Highlights with a Paper Towel

On 'Rough' or 'Cold Pressed' watercolor paper, paint a patch of color in the shape of a tree. I try to hold my brush flat or sideways, almost horizontal to the paper. The shape should be shiny wet but not wet enough to puddle and run. With a crumpled paper towel, lightly blot away highlights and sky holes. The longer you allow the paint to set the darker the blotted area will be. If you blot too soon the paint will seep back into the blot. The colors of the paint you select will also determine how much they will "stain" the paper before being blotted away. Roll or turn the paper towel to keep a dry blotting area. Don't over blot.
Always keep in mind that the wet paint will dry lighter.You may want to repeat this process over the same tree area to add additional texture and depth.

When the paint is dry, add some darker areas under the bough above the blots as shown. Dry again.

Tree #1 Painted with a flat brush. Tree #2 was painted with a round brush.

Now, the most technical part is to add the branches, Paint the limbs and branches in the darker areas of the tree and across the sky holes. Leave the lighter areas for the leaves closest to the viewer. If the trunk gets too dark. Blot with your paper towel. This adds great bark and texture.

Keeping the trunk lighter at the bottom will allow you to paint in grasses or pretty flowers at the base of the tree. Try painting several of these trees using various green mixtures. Its interesting to see which will blot away and leave color behind.
Enjoy painting!
Keep those brushes wet!
SUSIE

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