How to Paint Leaves in Watercolor
When you paint from nature it is impossible to paint each little detail that you see. This is especially true when you paint leaves. A good strategy to have as you study your reference materials is to make a series of decisions dealing with what needs to be emphasized and what needs to be minimized or left out. Give emphasis to a few areas of the piece. Working in odd numbers of areas of interest makes the composition more interesting by creating tension. Trying to paint too much detail makes a painting confusing to the eye.
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Things You'll Need
- Still life or photo for reference
- Watercolors
- Watercolor brushes: flats and rounds, small rounds for detail
- Palette
- Container of water
- Paper towels
- Smooth surface to paint on: table or Plexiglas cut to a 16 x 20 size and sanded on the edges
- Masking tape
- Watercolor masking solution
Instructions
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1
Plan the composition by asking which flower and leaves you want to keep in the painting and which ones you want to give greater detail. Decide what areas need to have all detail left out. These background areas are painted in solid or slightly textured areas that help make the prominent leaves and flowers stand out.
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2
Sketch the composition on the watercolor paper lightly with a soft lead pencil.
Tape the watercolor paper down to a smooth surface like a table or a piece of Plexiglas cut to a 16 x 20 size and sanded on the edges. -
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3
Working from background to foreground, begin to fill in the solid leaf areas of the composition for which you have decided to omit the detail. Always let the painting dry between sessions. This helps keep the colors from becoming muddy and running into areas that you did not intend for them to run into.
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4
Fill in the background, remembering negative spaces are as important as positive shapes.You can create leaf shape with negative space. For small areas that you want to keep clean until you add detail at the end, use a masking solution for watercolors. It is painted on a section and will rub off when you are ready to paint the area.
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5
Begin to paint the leaves and flower shapes. The leaves will be layered with increasingly stronger color. Use washes at first, then more concentrated color. Flat brushes work best to create the leaf shapes. Start at the stem with the loaded brush sideways. As you move out from the stem, twist the brush, so you get a broader stroke. At the tip of the leaves, twist the brush back and lift up to create a point on the leaf's top.
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6
Begin to add detail to the leaves by painting in the stems and veins on a few of the leaves you have decided to emphasize. Use a small round brush. Remember to add some detail to the background, but keep the colors subtle, so they complement, not compete, with the foreground.
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7
Continue to layer the leaves and add highlight colors.
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8
Remove the masking by rubbing it off like rubber cement rubs off paper. Using a fine bush, add detail to the flowers, leaves and stamen.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Ruthieonart
