COLOUR MIXING
I begin here with six examples of the many ways to represent the tree trunks themselves and the first showing of leaves.
Example A is simplest of all. Here warm grey mixed with white becomes the only colour on the brush as the tree trunk is painted.
Example B Start by using the one-colour application then load the brush with three colours (white, cerulean blue and burnt umber) and with a little practice the effect on example B can be produced. Be aware how you pick up the colour on the flat brushhead; think all along where you want the light and the darks to land.
Example C A bark with far more texture, along with the roundness of the tree trunk, can be achieved by heavily loading the brush (I use a long flat shape handled sideways) and dragging it in a curved motion to apply the colour. Colours used here are orange, Hansa yellow light, bright green, cerulean blue and burnt umber. Use the paint directly from the tube with no medium added. Use two or three colours on the brush at a time when applying the initial marks then overlay others as desired.
Example D By mixing warm grey with cerulean blue and Hansa yellow light, a soft green is created, which is then painted on the trunk. Achieve the roundness of the trunk by painting a light stripe down each side.
Example E Starting with a mixture of Hansa yellow and white, paint the basic shape then illustrate the roundness by introducing quinacridone gold, applied to the right-hand side and allow the colours to blend together at different depths of application.
Example F Using the already painted example (E) as your starting point, push burnt umber, quinacridone gold and cerulean blue into the form using the tip of a long flat brush. The build up of paint is quite fat, using it straight from the tube with no dilution.