Birch Tree Demo - Page 3

Vary the colour pattern from tree to tree by making one colour more dominant than the others. This will create a little more interest in the painting. Try and have fun with the colour patterns. You will be surprised how many different colours there are in a birch tree. As I said earlier, forget about staying between the lines. They are only a reference. The more relaxed you are with the brush, the better the results.

This next step shows texture and roundness of the tree. Start by scraping or moving a puddle from one side of the tree to the other with a slight arc to the stroke. Clean the card or scraping tool after every stroke and start again. Begin your stroke outside the tree. Firmly pull the pigment to the other side. This is done while the paint is still wet. Results will vary depending on how wet or dry the paint is at this stage. You may need to practise on a scrap piece of paper a few times to get the pressure and timing right.