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A Walk in the Woods: Page 2

Author: Roger Elliot, Associate Editor

Next I have selected the airbrush tool and I have laid in some trees that will be quite far away. Here are some things you should know; In the "options" tab at the upper right hand of the program I have slid the "pressure" bar down to read "30%". Also, I have chosen the next to last brush size in row 2 of the brushes tab. The color I have used is a russet or reddish brown. I keep the trees "airy" by constantly depressing my mouse rather than to paint these in solid. Not much detail here, this is simply background music!!

Here we are using a tool that we have not used previously! As you can see I have "lightened" these far away trees. I accomplished this by using the "dodge tool" If you are unsure of which tool this is simply move your mouse over the tool box to the left and it will tell you the name of each tool. Once you have clicked onto the dodge tool, look at the options tab in the upper right. Make sure that your settings are as follows; The top box reads "shadows". The next box reads "dodge". The slide bar called "exposure" is set at 50%. If all is ready, move the dodge tool over the trees and depress the mouse as many times as is needed to lighten the trees to the degree you desire. We want these trees to be bathed in the sun from the sky!

Now let's work on the right side of our little painting for a while. I have laid in a tree in front of those trees that we lightened. I've added quite a few branches on this old tree to heighten the effect of the branches against the bright sky. Use your artistic inclinations and add as many or as few branches as you wish. Always be individualistic. Your painting need not look like mine! Also, you'll see that I have laid in some very dark brown beneath the tree. This is simply dark to show light. Remember; "No dark, no light".

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