Simple Tree Watercolor Painting Practice

Jan 13, 2025

One surefire way to see improvements in your watercolor paintings is to work the practice of isolated skills into your painting schedule. Instead of always approaching your easel with the idea of finishing a complete watercolor scene, schedule time where you can focus in on specific subjects or skills that you want to improve upon. 

Watercolor Practice - Learn to Paint Trees

Trees are a common subject in landscapes, and they're so ordinary that any viewer of your paintings can tell immediately when something is off. That's why it's a great subject to focus in on and build your skill around. 

This simple watercolor practice is meant to be fun and engaging, offering you the opportunity to create without risk of "messing things up."

Now, unlike some of my other painting tutorials, the point is not to follow my every move. Instead, watch me paint this tree and follow the basics I outline to paint your own tree.

Then do it again - paint a completely different tree with the same principles. You can come back to this practice anytime you want, refining your skill each time. 

Principles and Proportions When Painting a Tree

No two trees are the same, so you have a wide-range of freedom when you go to paint them. However, there are some important guidelines that will help you create life-like trees. 

  • First of all, your trunk should be the thickest part of your tree. No bough or limb should compete with it. Make sure that the base of the tree appears like it could actually support the rest of the tree.
  • Trees are organic, growing organisms, and so they're not these perfectly symmetrical shapes. Avoid creating mirror-image shapes on each side. Instead, vary your brush marks and directional lines. 
  • As you work up to the height of the tree, make sure to make your limbs progressively thinner. 

2 Step Process of Painting a Tree

Let me walk you through my 2-step process for this practice exercise.

1. Create the tree's silhouette.

  • I skipped the drawing step and just played on the page, creating the shape of the tree as I went.
  • I used a Silver Black Velvet #12 Brush and Raw Umber pigment. 
  • I focused on the main shape of the tree before moving on to the next step.

2. Create shadow, depth, and detail with a darker pigment.

  • While my paint was still wet on the page, I added some Neutral Tint to my Raw Umber for a darker mix.
  • I used a rigger brush for this step, holding it loosely toward the end of the brush. 
  • Painting a wet-into-wet wash, I added the darker hue to parts of the tree to add soft shadow shapes and nondescript edges. 
  • Then I added some thin dry brush marks to the ends of the limbs.

Try This Simple Watercolor Exercise to Master Trees 

Setting aside time for focused watercolor practice that allows you to isolate specific skills can be really freeing. It gives you a chance to unplug from all the competing elements you're dealing with when painting an entire scene and achieve a level of comfort with one subject or skill. I hope that taking the time to paint some trees gives you more confidence when you include trees in your next landscape painting.

Related Blogs

Paint Trees with Depth and Realism

Painting a Tree with Watercolor: Tips and Tricks

How Do you Paint Trees with Watercolor?

  

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