PAINT NITE: FALL LEAVES GREETING CARD

FALL LEAVES

GREETING CARD

MATERIAL LIST

• Lyra Aqua Duo Markers 24 pack

• Canson L’Aquarelle Heritage Hot Press Watercolour Paper OR Canson Watercolour Greeting Cards

• Water

• Paper Towel

• Round paint brush

• Pencil

• Eraser

STEP 1: THE DRAWING

Using a pencil, draw the outline of the tree. You can draw as many or as few branches as you’d like! It is easiest to draw the trunk of the tree first, and add the branches on after.

STEP 2: BLOCK IN LIGHTEST COLOURS

I chose to use orange, pink, and yellow for my highlight colours. Using the Lyra Aqua duo BRUSH TIP side, block in your colour. Try to keep your shapes loose and organic! They do not have to be perfect. In the next step, you’re going to be adding water to each section of colour which will turn the marker into watercolour! You’ll be able to play more with the paint then.

I erased some areas of the tree where I want the leaves to appear to be in front of the branch

STEP 3: ADD WATER

With a clean paint brush, dip it in your water and apply directly to the blobs of colour! They will transform into watercolours! You’ll notice the brush will pick up some of the colour; feel free to move the paint around and experiment with strokes. By using really short strokes, you can give the appearance of single leaves.

STEP 4: ADD YOUR DARKS

Once your highlights are dry, it’s time to add the darker shadow colours. I used a variety of browns, an olive green, dark red, and light red.

Try to concentrate your shadow colours close to the trunk of the tree or around thicker branches.

STEP 5: ADD WATER

Repeat step 3 and add water to your new colour blocks so they blend in with the rest of your colours

STEP 6: THE TREE TRUNK

Once your leaves are try, it’s time for the tree trunk.

I want the light to be coming from the right side of my tree so I am going to concentrate my shadow colour on the left side of my trunk and branches.

I used a cool dark blue colour to do this.

STEP 7: ADD WATER

Repeat step 3 & 5 and add water to the tree trunk. Be careful to not blend the tree trunk in with your leaves.

Since your brush will pick up some of the blue colour, you can move some of the colour using vertical strokes to give the trunk some texture.

Don’t worry about applying water to the really fine branches. You want those ones to stay thin and crisp!

STEP 8: DETAILS (OPTIONAL)

Using the black Aqua Duo Marker thin tip side, I drew some bark on my tree trunk

I also added some small dots in the leaves just for more texture.

Feel like sharing your work? I’d love to see it!

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