I was in need of some much need rest and relaxation. Open House is on Thursday this week and if you aren't a teacher just know that a lot of stress and preparation goes into the big day. Today was an all about me day. I knew I wanted to paint and had already found an oil painting online that I wanted to replicate. The picture below is the original I found it at this link: http://oil-painting-art.blogspot.com/ - follow the link to find more information including the artist, medium, price and where you can purchase this amazing original landscape painting. I simply typed 'tree painting' into google images and scrolled through until I found something that I would like and would match my decor. :)
After finding it online I copied and pasted it into a Microsoft Office Publisher document and used the rulers to separate it into 4 columns and 4 rows. I did this same process on my actual canvas. I used a pen but I recommend using a pencil if you are doing this craft... for some reason the pen repelled my paint and no matter how much I tried painting over it, the pen mark kept showing through. After I marked my grid lines I drew a very informal outline of my tree since that was the prominent part of my painting and I could use it as a guideline when painting.
Then I organized all my acrylic paints. You could use another medium but I am more comfortable with acrylic. This brand "artist loft" is very inexpensive if you are just painting for fun like I am. It's even more inexpensive if you use a coupon at your local craft store.
Then I got the colors ready for my sky. As you'll see in a minute I only used the dark blue and white and never touched the light blue. When painting with acrylic don't mix your colors before putting it on your canvas, let them mix while you are painting as it adds to the effect and look.
Here is my sky. Notice how since I didn't mix before painting that the colors look multi-dimensional. I am not sure if that is the right terminology, I am very new to painting. :)
Here is the colors I plan on using for my leaves.
With the leaves I just started with the dark yellow and scattered my brush across the canvas. I tried to make it not so 'leaf-heavy' the closer they were to the tree trunk. All the while I am using the grids from my computer example to help guide me. The great part about painting is that you don't have to stick with a certain idea you can change it up as you go along.
Then I added dark brown and scattered my brush across certain spots. Once again you let the brush mix with the colors as you go. Also try not to make it globby, but start heavy and lighten your brush strokes as you move outward to make it look more natural. If you mess up, let it dry and go back over with the dark yellow and start again. :)
I tried to make some of my leaves go behind my tree trunk (that I have not painted yet) so whe I start the tree the look like they are behind the trunk. You can see the side by side example with my computer here.
Here I started adding bright yellow to lighten up some of my leaves like in the original painting I found online. Once again, if you mess up wait for it to dry paint it over and start again. No big deal. Then I painting my whole trunk white before slowly adding black starting at the bottom and working my way up. I let the colors mix on the canvas to create the gray color.
Here I started adding more detailing from my picture. You can see the white from the sun shining through part of the leaves and adding more black and browns to the trunk. to make it look more real on the trunk keep your brush very light instead of pressing it hard and down on the canvas.
Here I started adding individual leaves using a mixture of my yellows and white and just dabbing it along my leaves. You can add more dark yellow or brown or white as you go to make it as you want it.
Here I started adding black branches, using my computer example (with the publisher grid lines and my own lines) to guide me. I started with heavy brush strokes towards the trunk of my tree and kept it very light as I extended the branches outward. Then I added brown strokes within the black ones on my branches and ended it with white all along the tops. You could always add more or put on less branches if you like. Once again, if you mess up, it is very easy to fix. I tried to make my branches look like they were covered by leaves by leaving spaces every so often when drawing the branches. Remember branches are stiff straight lines, so a wobbly hand works great here. :)
Here is my final product. I added just a couple more highlighted leaves. Then stopped (don't go overboard!).
Here is a close up of my finished product. I am very happy with it! :)
When replicating a painting make sure to choose one with a simple drawing and few colors if you are new. Using publisher and drawing grid lines is the key here to help you if you aren't comfortable with just going free hand in. This was definitely a fun and relaxing project and can't wait for it to dry to hang it up. Acrylic is a great paint to use because it can be very forgiving and fast drying. This whole painting took me about 4 hours, with several breaks in between.Come back soon for more creativity! :)
Cassie
