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5 from 1 vote

How to Paint Watercolor Birch Trees

This easy and fun tutorial will show you how to paint birch trees in three ways and also includes a video.
Active Time15 minutes
Keyword: birch trees, painting tutorial, watercolor tutorial
Yield: 3 paintings

Equipment

  • Hair Dryer optional - speed up drying time

Materials

  • Watercolor Paper I used both Canson XL Watercolor Paper and Fabriano Watercolor Post Cards - both are affordable
  • Watercolor Brushes Size round 4 and 6, flat brush
  • Clean Water
  • Paper Towels
  • Scrap Paper Use to test colors
  • Masking Fluid I used Windsor and Newton but you can also get pen type
  • Cheaper Brush To apply Masking Fluid - don't use good watercolor brush.
  • Micron Pen in black size .005
  • Posca Pens various sizes in white
  • Gelly Roll Pens various sizes in white
  • Washi Tape
  • Enamel Tray if using Kuretake Paints
  • Coarse Salt optional

Watercolor Paints

  • Payne's Gray Daniel Smith
  • Cerulean Blue Windsor Newton
  • Windsor Violet Windsor Newton
  • Kuretake Tambai Watercolors in Black, Ultramarine, & Indigo

Instructions

Version 1 with Masking Fluid

  • Tape edges of watercolor paper onto a table or hard surface. Be sure to press the tape firmly.
  • Lightly with a pencil draw the tree trunks. You can lighten lines by pressing a kneaded eraser over the lines.
  • Using a cheaper paint brush, apply masking fluid inside the tree trunks, so they remain white. You can also get masking fluids in pen form. Alternatively you could use washi tape for this too if you don’t have masking fluid. Allow masking fluid to dry fully.
  • Apply a wash of blue. I used a mixture of Indigo, Ultramarine and a hint of Black. While still wet you can drop in colors and layer for deeper effect. Allow to dry.
  • Carefully remove the masking fluid from the tree trunks. Remove by gently rubbing the area.
  • Time to paint the tree trunks. I start with a light watery mix of gray and go up the left side of the tree. Then I drop in dark hues. I also run smaller lines along the right side making them curve. Once dry I apply thicker paint in black to give more definition and detail.
  • Using a Micron Pen draw branches and some more detailed lines to the trunks of the trees.
  • Apply dots using Posca Pens and Gelly Roll Pens. This will appear to look like a snowy sky.
  • Carefully, remove washi tape and enjoy your painting!

Version 2 with Micron Pen

  • Tape edges of watercolor paper onto a table or hard surface. Be sure to press the tape firmly.
  • Draw the shapes of the tree trunks with a Micron pen in black size .005.
  • Apply a wash of blue. You can use any colors but I used cerulean. While still wet you can drop in colors and layer for deeper effect. I dropped in some Windsor violet. You need to work in sections with this version. Be careful not to paint over the white tree trunks. Allow to dry.
  • Using the same method as before - paint the tree trunks. I start with a light watery mix of gray and go up the left side of the tree. Then I drop in dark hues. I also run smaller lines along the right side making them curve. Once dry I apply thicker paint in black to give more definition and detail.
  • Using a Micron Pen draw branches and some more detailed lines to the trunks of the trees.
  • Carefully remove the washi tape enjoy.

Video

Notes

Version 3 - using salt with watercolor.
Follow all the directions in Version 2 but while the background color is still wet apply salt to the wet paint. It will work as a paint resist and make it look frosting on the paper. Once the paint is dry carefully remove the salt by gently rubbing with your finger. Then carry on with painting the rest of the painting.
Ideas for using your watercolors :
  • Frame and hang or display in your home
  • Scan them to create a pattern or digital printable
  • Create cards celebrating winter or winter holidays.