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Sketching Trees
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Message
Posted
I wasn’t sure where to post this topic and indeed if I should post it at all, quite a few of you will know I have what I can only call a passion for trees .
I was fortunate enough to spend ten years working in the woodlands and going more of an understanding of how they grow and events die , but like humans but over a longer period.
I like to paint trees and add then to my landscape as the add that extra dimension that’s needed in some work hight and of course width against the skyline .
Any countryside would look bare without the tree and I believe the British landscape would particularly look bare without trees and hedgerows that we take for granted.
After that long winded introduction I will get to the point , Sketching trees is so important to learn the shapes and proportions etc that will stand yiu in good stead when painting them . Indeed sketching forms the base of a good painting no matter what your subject.
I was asked by someone to show then how I sketch trees and though it might make a WIP with a bit of learning thrown in, not that I’m a good teacher.
I will post a few of my sketches here and the one I’m currently working on , which suits a WIP as I can only spend a short time working on it due to other commitments.
First off a few examples of my tree sketches apologies if you have sen them before.
I will also search out a couple of paintings as we progress.
This is the current project, a old beech pollard they are interesting subjects as the lower part of the pollard can a hundred or more years old and the top twenty of less .
This shows in the smoother bark on the top growing branches etc and the gnarled growth below with very different colours.
Out of interest a pollard is the same ax a coppice stool only it’s high up on the trunk , this was to stop grazing by deer , cattle etc who love the tender you leaves and stems . ( My goodness this guy is boring ).
This is how far I have reached I will give a full explanation next time I post .
This is the current project, a old beech pollard they are interesting subjects as the lower part of the pollard can a hundred or more years old and the top twenty of less .
This shows in the smoother bark on the top growing branches etc and the gnarled growth below with very different colours.
Out of interest a pollard is the same ax a coppice stool only it’s high up on the trunk , this was to stop grazing by deer , cattle etc who love the tender you leaves and stems . ( My goodness this guy is boring ).
This is how far I have reached I will give a full explanation next time I post .
Posted
Although I never would have described myself as a “ tree person” , when I thought about it and looked through my work, I realised I am! Winter trees in particular with all the structure showing. I feel a sort of contentment when I’m pulling out the branches. How about we all choose the favourite of the trees we have produced. Perhaps in a different thread? I don’t want to interfere with this thread Paul. Although no one might be interested…..
Posted
I’m interested, I’ve got plenty to choose from, but it means trawling through my portfolios, which I will do - mostly in their winter garb, I rarely paint green trees!
Just had a Quick Look and I’ve got enough on file, some individual, some within a landscape…bring it on…
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
I do paint, and draw, a lot of trees - full leaf, partial leaf, no leaf, summer, autumn, winter: I'll have a crack at all of 'em. Sometimes, I have to force myself to paint or draw something else, just to break the addiction - but I always come back to trees. I like the big gnarly ones, the twisty and sinister ones, the tall, slender ones, so I look forward to more examples of Paul's work.
Posted
The next stage , I like to start with a light shading in the area in going to works as it then stands out that doesn’t mean that I concentrate on that part only.
I used to us a HB pencil to do the outlines of ant drawings I do but over the past year or so I started to use B grade pencils only, following a discussion with Sylvia . A light outline can easily be blended out where a hard line leaves a trace no matter how much your try to remove it , I seem to work mostly with B2 , 4,6 and 9 but do use others as well .
I also lime to use the wood less graphite pencils and again it in the B ranges much the same a the humble pencil which to be honest is my favourite sketch ping tool. I kind several people have different sketch pads for different subjects and I follow this myself as I then focus on what in sketching more by having the pad just for that subject.
This was done last night but unfortunately the light isn’t that good for a decent photo , I did not crop the photo so it includes the edges of the pad as if your look at the it .
Stating on the darker gnarled bottom half of the pollard , the most challenging part of the sketch so I do it in smaller pieces otherwise it can become a bit overwhelming.
