How do I paint leaves and trees?

Leaves and trees are great for practicing brush control. A few simple strokes with your water brush can make a whole branch, and trees are mostly blobs of color built from light to dark.

How do I paint a simple leaf?

  1. Touch the tip down. Start at the base of the leaf with just the point of your water brush.
  2. Press and pull. Press down gently so the bristles spread, and pull in the direction of the leaf.
  3. Lift at the end. Lift slowly as you finish the stroke, so the leaf ends in a point.
  4. Add a second shade. While the leaf is still wet, touch a darker green to one side so it blends softly.
  5. Add the vein once it's dry. Paint a thin line down the middle with the very tip.

How do I paint a tree?

  1. Paint the trunk and main branches. Use brown with a little water, thicker at the bottom and thinner as you go up.
  2. Dab on a light green. Use the side of the bristles to dab soft, uneven patches for the leaves. Leave small gaps so the sky shows through.
  3. Add darker green while it's damp. Touch it to the bottom and one side of the leaf patches to make shadows.
  4. Add details once it's dry. Paint a few small branches, darker leaf clusters or a shadow on the ground.

How do I mix different greens?

  • Add more yellow for fresh spring leaves.
  • Add more blue for deep forest greens.
  • Add a touch of red or orange to make a green softer and more natural.

Good to know

  • Trees in the distance look lighter and bluer, and trees up close look darker and more detailed.
  • Keep shapes loose and uneven. Real trees are never perfectly round.

Try our Leaf, Fern, Pine Tree and Birch Tree tutorials: https://tobioskits.com/pages/watercolor-tutorials

Related articles

How do I paint water, like a lake or the sea? How do I paint simple flowers? How do I paint a simple sky or landscape? How do I use the water brush for fine details and large areas? How much water should I use when painting?