A leaf canopy helps to frame the composition and advance the storytelling

I want to give this environment a sense of being enclosed, so I add some leaves at the top of the image. The leaves also help to add a feeling of weight and drama, as if the scene is leading up to a specific storytelling moment. When I paint such supporting elements I always try to see them as shapes and how they relate to the entire scene. It’s not an easy skill to grasp, so it may take you some time to get it right.