Pathway through trees watercolour

We went walking the other day, I was particularly looking for some trees to paint because I was fascinated with the idea that trees in woods, you can’t tell where one begins and another ends.

Came across this small pathway of stairs which climbed up into the trees. So tonight, whilst I wait for the paper to stretch for another more finished piece, I decided to experiment.

I’m starting to understand one of my problems with watercolour is I think too much ‘wash’ and not enough I. Terms of stronger pigments. That means I have to go in and add more definition later which might muddy the transparent nature of the paint.

The green lichens rocks on the right seem to have responded ok to that treatment, but I think I’m still lost in the steps. I’ll work on these areas tomorrow night though.

Another problem needs solving with the golden leaves fallen on the floor. I’ll work on that part more slowly.

Just for the record for later, worth saying how I got the rock. Yes it’s supposed to be green.

I layered in a raw umber and sap green mix in the darkest shades. Then I lightened that wash and put another layer over the whole rock, which of course layered the shade another step darker.

I waited for a little dying to take place, then started added Indian red, dioxazine violet, and ultra marine in. I’m trying to avoid lamp black.

A technique that seems to work is along as the paint is damp, a fairly thick mix of this paint (double cream?) will will quite happily on top of the damp with spreading. I then go in with a clean and quite damp brush, not too wet, and shape the clefts. Sometimes the water is a bit too wet, I try not to push the edges of the thick paint so it almost lifts it off. In other places I blend it into the underneath colours.

To build texture I’ve started being quite rough and almost scrub at the surface with my brush.

I spot some interesting patterns as it starts to dry, and I go in with more of the thick paint, perhaps after damping slightly, just the tip of the brush. That gives me the darkest cracks. Basically I let the run patterns dictate where I will put the cracks.

I then look at the shapes I have and identify where should have highlights. Again, in with the scrubbing action and with that’s water and a bit of kitchen roll I lift away areas to emphasise the highlights.

I guess I need to do some more research to identify non-staining paints which will allow me to do this more thoroughly.

My skies need more work…