Sponging and Salt For Trees and Foliage - Intermediate Level
Secrets For Fast Professional Looking Trees
Landscapes: Sponging + Salt For Technique Value + Edges For Composition
Trees and foliage may seem very complex, but, if you learn to balance applying paint (with sponging and/or salt), with values and edges, you can create amazing landscapes fairly quickly. Even when used for just one tree, these techniques add so much realism to your composition.
In this lesson, a bright spring morning gives you a head start on success. I've included some figures in silhouette but you can paint this with or without the figures. (Photo from Pixabay.)
Included are downloads of reference photo as 8 x 10 pdf and jpg form, outline page and written instructions (containing black and white figuresphoto), video demonstration of the walk in the park, and an extra hand out on tips for landscapes.
Since painting all green can be confusing when you're first beginning to learn sponging, I'm including an extra reference photo in 8 x 10 pdf form and jpg of the road to my old home in fall, which you can also use to paint different areas of color with sponging.
Sponging in layers takes a bit of thought, but is entirely doable for painting watercolor realism for landscapes and foliage, not to mention a fast technique.
Happy Painting!
Your Instructor
I'm a self taught artist and I love teaching!
My story is simple.
I showed a lot of interest and talent as a child, but my parents discouraged art as a waste of time. I spent my adult life as a nurse and raised a family - pretty busy. While I was home with the birth of my daughter, I bought a cheap set of watercolors and fell in love with the bloom of color. I told my husband, 'I'm going to keep painting with these until I get really good.'
Back then, not many painted realistic watercolors, so I practiced and tried things until I worked out my own style. It took a lot of trial and error,
. When I entered my first art show, I won two awards and was told I'd have to enter the professional category and not beginner. That frightened me soo much, I didn't enter again for years.
When my work began selling, I entered more shows with more great success. I worked very hard and became a full time professional artist and teacher.
Although my work has been recognized and featured in major exhibitions, books and magazines, I'm very down to earth, and just love painting.
No one has 'all the time in the world'. Paint now. You're never too old, it's never too late. Any bit of time you can practice will improve your skills.
And yes, this cowboy is a watercolor painting. (Reference photo used with permission by Diana Robinson)
Have fun and learn from a master - sign up today!