It’s fall again, time to marvel at those magnificent trees! Today I want to share a really fun and quick way to paint a fall watercolor tree easily!
Even if you never painted before, this step by step tutorial will show you how to paint a beautiful fall watercolor tree in just 10 minutes!
I remember one of the first paintings I made in art school : I walked by these trees with such magnificent fall colors, and ran to the classroom to tell my teacher that I simply can’t stay inside to paint the model for now! ( that now turned into ever) I had very open and supportive teachers.
I was very lucky! 🙂
By the way, if you love trees in all seasons, these spring trees are just as easy, using a totally different technique! Materials and tools to paint a watercolor tree:
- watercolor paper : there are many kinds of watercolor papers, some have a warm ivory tone to them, others are more white, you can compare the first and last image to see the difference. If you just want to play and practice, even this inexpensive paper will work!
- brushes: these brushes are great for all kinds of painting . I like using those with a nice pointed tip for watercolors, they are great for washes, and for finer details
- a tooth brush : this is a lot of fun to use, you will see!
- watercolor paint : they often come with a lid that can be used to mix colors. A white plastic plate is also great for mixing colors
- a dish to hold water for wetting and rinsing brushes
Step 1: Paint the watercolor tree canopy with a very thin wash of orange or yellow.
Let the brush soak up a lot of water, then touch the tip with a little bit of color, now place your brush on the mixing surface, you will have a very diluted wash.
Imagine the watercolor tree canopy as clusters of clouds, and don’t worry if you “mess up”, every tree is different, and these shapes will guide us in the next step.
Step 2: Add deeper color washes in the canopy
While the first thin watercolor washes are still wet, add more watercolor to your paint brush, and paint on top of the first layer. Have a second brush handy, dip it in water and wet the paper a bit more if it feels too dry.
This watercolor painting technique is called wet on wet. It creates a nice colored area with soft edges.
I used some yellow, orange, and olive green. You can see all these colors flow into each other because they all have soft edges.
Tips: How to mix watercolors to create a natural green
A lot of times the ready made green are too saturated, as you can see that neon green up here.
By mixing it with a touch of yellow and red (opposite of green), it becomes a natural olive green on the left. There are infinite variations of green, and that’s the beauty of it – you don’t need to mix the same shade of green every time!
Step 3: Paint the watercolor tree trunk and branches
Mix a little brown and black to get a grey-brown color, start with a pale wash( like in step 1) of the trunk form and a few branches in the canopy,then paint a deeper color over it, like in step 2.
If you are unsure, always stay with the lighter washes, it’s easy to go darker later.
Now the really fun part starts: splatters! Continue to next page –
It, s so nice an idea very simple. Many times the simple is de most beautiful, so we don,t have to strive to do expensive and dificult things for feel satisfied. I don,t know if I Had expressed well. My English isn’t that good… 🙁
you said it beautifully pilar! creativity far outweighs expensive stuff! hugs!
I’m not an artist by any means but love painting for myself. I’ll have to give this one a shot! PS. Your painting turned out beautiful! 🙂
thank you dear erica!
Oh Im obsessed with this! So pretty! I can picture it on a Papyrus greeting card about Fall. So pretty!
thank you candace! i love watercolor greeting cards! =)
This is so lovely! The perfect picture for autumn. I wish I had your talent.
thank you fi! you are talented for sure! =)
I was just trying to figure out the best way to make a painting like this! This is exactly what I needed!
that’s awesome alicia! =)
That is just so lovely! You did such a beautiful job! 🙂
More beautiful than the trees here right now!
i will trade it for your tree!! =)
I primarily only paint with acrylics but this is so gorgeous. I love all the layering you did.
thank you nancy! i love acrylics too! =)
What a lovely painting! You’re an amazing artist (I can barely draw stick figures)
thank you dear angelic! i am sure you can paint this! =)
This is beautiful! I wish I knew how to paint with watercolors.
thank you jessica! it’s easy and fun!
What an awesome painting and I would have never thought to use a toothbrush during it! You’re such a talented artist!
thank you heather! everyone can do this! =)
Okay, that is so cool! I’ve always wanted to learn watercolor!
thank you kendall! watercolor is lots of fun!
Gorgeous water colors! I wish I could create a fall tree watercolor! I’m artistically inept.
sure you can brenda! =)
Okay this is awesome! I am not good at painting at all and you made it really simple but still looks like a pro! Its just a great way to add a touch of fall to the home without breaking the pocket too!
thank you avie! it’s very simple! =)
that is so fantastic!!! I can’t even draw a stick figure. This is awesome
thank you dear michelle! =)
A picture paints a thousand words and Ananda your tree encapsulates the essence of autumn. FAB!
arti@artismoments.com
thank you dear arti! xo
Ananda, you’ve really inspired me to paint. I used to love to paint, but I’m not very good at it 🙂 that’s why I have a cooking blog! Because I’m no painter. Hahahaha! But, this looks relatively simple to do, and I love the toothbrush trick! Pinned!
you ARE a great artist kristi! great cooks are great artists, i always felt they might even be better because no one cares which museum displays your dish if it doesn’t taste good! =)
Wow, that is gorgeous!! You have some great skills!!
thank you dear lindsay! =)
I have always admired people who can draw and paint as it is something that I don’t feel I can do, HOWEVER, this post is so amazing to the extent that you make it look SO easy that I think I might actually be able to pull it off! Thank you so much for providing such detail information on how you do it!
you are so sweet andi! have lots of fun!
Wowie! Thanks for sharing with us c:
This looks fun to do also with kids I think!
Xx http://icepandora.blogspot.com
thank you! kids love watercolors =)
Oh my goodness, you are really talented! I love your autumn tree. It’s so pretty! I love watercolors. Fantastic job!
thank you deanna for your kind words! =)
Fantastic creative tutorial!!! The layering that you create with watercolors is lovely (the few times I’ve done it, I’ve been too impatient to let one layer dry enough to add additional depth and color intensity) and the end result is charming. Great piece for fall. I’m inspired!
xo,
lauriel
EyeForElegance.com
thank you dear lauriel! xo
this is indeed beautiful
That is beautiful. I took my first ever watercolour class a few weeks go and was instantly hooked. What a lovely medium to work with. I have bookmarked you and will have a go at painting a tree just like yours.
hi cherie! thank you and happy painting! =)
Hi Ananda
I have just painted two trees following your excellent instructions. They are drying in the kitchen tight now. I am planning to try the bubble painitng tomorrow
This is so beautiful!
simple and fun! lovely…
I have a clump birch tree I’d like to try this simple technique with, however, not sure what tones to use to achieve the trunks and larger branches. My water color paper is white. Can you make some suggestions please.
great question kate! =) but no easy answer, as white is the hardest thing to paint in water color, such as birch trunk, snow, clouds, all of which are my fav!!
one easier way might be to use a thin outline in light grey or brown, and leave the trunk white. i will play with some ideas and get back to you when i find a good solution! =)
I have been doing some watercolor and have used some of these techniques. Did learn some new techniques. Thanks for giving me a few more tips.
That’s a very easy and lovely way to get tree painted. I will give it a try and let you know the result
très joli, merci pour la leçon
Beautiful! I wanna try this too 😀
What causes that mottled look when you applied the second layer of color? It appears smooth with the first light wash, then speckly with the next. Is that just from the texture of the paper?
Thanks,
Elizabeth
yes some paper does this more than others. =)
Is there a specific brand you use?
i used an older set i had. but in this new tutorial there’s a list of materials i like! =) https://www.apieceofrainbow.com/spring-trees-watercolor-painting/
You are fantastic! You make me feel like I can actually do this. I have ALWAYS wished I knew how to paint. After seeing this, I am going to give it a try.
Just an awesome one
I made it and it was such a pretty tree
Just can’t believe so simple
Thanks for your guidance
yay! thank you manisha! =) feel free to post a photo on my facebook page anytime! =)
I love this piece of art! This is so amazing! It did make me believe that I can turn into a good artist ?
I am so very happy to have found your website! I want to learn how to paint and had no clue really where to start. I’ve looked at both of your tree tutorials, and the cherry tree at night, and the bubble hydrangeas, and the other flowers, and now I am excited to get started.
Thank you for such an inspiring site!
thank you so much Suzanne! happy painting! =)