Tree Work in Progress...

[WickedGlindaGrl]

Okay, so I'm new to this whole OP thing and I'm generally new to the art scene... my parents are both extremely talented, but I haven't had any real interest in pursuing anything until now, and I'm trying a bunch of different things. So this is a tree that I'm working on, and my question is... how does this whole layering thing work? I looked at the classroom for trees and I saw a bunch of different approaches to it, but I feel like regardless of what I do, my stuff turns out more cartoon like and less realistic. Any ideas or pointers for a newbie to OPs?

Stephanie

[halthepainter]

Stephanie, I think it would help to go outside and paint some trees from nature. You've drawn a caricature of a tree which is fine if that is what you're shooting for.

You have a huge trunk and small crown. It's usually the other way around except for some of those wierd African trees.

Keep the tree light and airy, start with a darker interior, and bring it forward with a middle value, and finish with highlights on the sunlit side, and allow us to look into and through the tree, and keep it three dimensional.

Also don't allow it to become too symmetrical.

Just my ideas.

[Pat Isaac]

Good advice from Hal, Stephanie and I would agree with going outside and looking at trees.

Pat

[Flycatcher10]

I agree with Hal's advice as well. Consider drawing some shaded trees - so you get a feel for making sky holes, leaves and of course the trunks and branches.

Check out the ArtistsTV. Some of the videos are excellent for getting instruction on painting trees with pastels (they tend to be soft pastels, but you can interpert the information back to oil pastels). Three suggestions are Maggie Price, Jackie Simmonds, and Lynn Hayworth.

One last suggestion is to take a piece of scrap paper, find some trees that other artists have painted and use them as a guide. Knowing that on the scrap paper you won't be putting that many layers down - it's just to give you a feel for painting the tree w/a variety of colors and values.

[MatchstickMan]

Hi Stephanie from a fellow-newbie! Your tree-work post caught my eye because I too am currently agonising over the best way to represent trees and foliage

I reckon there are three main areas to consider - shape, detail, and application of colour - which of the three are you most concerned about?

There is also a distinction between 'representation' and 'realism'

As a late-comer to the world of art, I am unlikely to become technically competent, and so I have decided to concentrate on 'representation', and I can imagine your tree fitting very nicely into a piece which was intended to tell a story of survival

I am currently experimenting with different ways, such as hatching, of applying colour to a lightly sketched shape - once I have identified the leafy bits and the dark bits etc, there is a lot of freedom of choice as to which colours to use

Please don't take my word for anything, I am just thinking aloud!

ps - I may be wrong, but I think it is likely that trees and foliage, like water, are generally regarded as a tricky area

[WickedGlindaGrl]

Okay guys... I didn't totally give up on the tree, but I have such bad art ADD and I have to switch around with stuff. This is my latest attempt, and it was the first time that I actually lifted color off when I was working... It made certain details so much easier!!!! So the elephant was my first attempt at checking out that technique. I also attempted a seascape off a picture I took in Grand Caymen.

I think that struggling with making things more realistic than "cartoonish" comes with age and experience, right?

I'm just hoping that I'm not horrible and everyone isn't just pacifying me by saying that I've got some kind of talent. Critiques and Criticisms are welcomed. Tell me what I can do to improve!!

[MatchstickMan]

Hi S - the trees behind the elephant are not dissimilar from the tree in your original post, which supports what I said earlier

My only other comment is that the tooth of your support is rather obvious, but I'm not sure what would be the cause - the OPs which I have are very hard, and work better on smooth paper

I think that the search for 'realism' is probably cyclical - the better you get, the more you are able to break away, but in the meantime, you are doing real good, trust me!

[reeta]

My only advice is don't get caught up on others opinions on whether you have "talent" or not. If you have a desire/passion to do it, then you have something to say and just do it.

Welcome to the op forum. I look forward to seeing more of your lovely work.

[TamaraB]

I think your work is pretty good. Realism comes with practice and patience I would think. If you are going for super-realism, I would suggest reading up on this genre, taking classes or workshops, and seeing what other artist do to achieve this. There are lots of awesome videos online where artist show their process. Just keep at it and you will surprise yourself with just what all you can do.

[Frostie]

Stephanie, You've made a great start. You find the more you do the more you will improve. Once you get used to oil pastels you'll find new ways of adding different effects and textures - all of which help to achieve realism.