How
to Draw an Autumn Tree with Colored Pencils
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Welcome to a
new Free art lesson by Derrick the Artist. (Kind of catchy right.) In this
lesson I will be teaching you how to draw a tree in time for Fall. The purpose
of this lesson is to train your brain how to see lines flowing together to
create an image from imagination. We will not use any references, unless you
count the examples, and everyone’s tree will look unique. Also I am going to
show you some short cuts to give the illusion of a lot of detail with less
effort. Pick up your pencils and let us get started.
Step 1: Trees are one of a kind.
To start this lesson you have to have some fun. Take the Dark brown and start
outlining your tree, the more randomness with each branch the better. Seriously
any technical adversities and rules you may have, forget them for just a little
bit.
Step 2: We are now going to fine
tune the sketch with some details. Add a good knot on the trunk to give the
viewer something to look at. Now with each branch you want to start adding more
twig like branches. Don’t make them too robotic and repetitive. Place some
branches in front and behind. You can also place them on the trunk for added
fun. Because this is a “Fall” tree we are going to end each twig with fine
crooked points in all directions. For all the twigs you sketched coming off the
front of the tree branches, remember to erase where it connects and round it
out for a quick 3d effect.
Step 3: In this step you are
going to practice your line work. Following the contour of the tree you are
going to add a line starting from the base and making your way up the tree
changing the form as you go. Add more character by adding knots and curves
mid-way, but remember to have the lines flow together like a river. Keep some
closer together than others as this will create grooves for shading later. The
trick to this is to not over think it. Look at your tree and you will see the
lines and where they are supposed to go, just follow the curves, and build from
each line you add on.
Step 4: Now that your tree is all sketched out, we will give
it some color. Using the Tan colored pencil, find the lines
that are closer together and fill them in. Remember to color with the lines,
and don’t soften it out too much. Find where two lines meet and darken these
areas a bit more such as corners, and deep grooves. This will help with the
shadows, and defining the tree more.
Tip: The grainier the
color the better for a tree, we are adding textures with the bark so medium
paper works well, or just drawing on a wood table or surface works too.
Step 5: Using
the Light
Brown color lightly color over the entire tree. As you color continue
to color in the direction of the lines and get and even coverage over the tree.
This will act as the base color of the tree.
Step 6: In
this step we are going to define the front from the back. Using the color Brown
find your grooves and darken them in. Begin to go over the lines and
add shadows by shading in the lines closer together. Once finished begin to
darken the branches in the rear. Shade from dark to light starting from the tree
and lighten up your strokes as you get toward the end of the branch.
Step 7: We
are getting there. It is time to age the tree for the Fall season. Once again
we are going to use the Dark Brown and just like in step
seven we are going to finish defining the shadows. Darken the branches in the
back further, and add more shadows along the lines as curves. Find your light
source and darken the edges tree trunk itself and shade from dark to light.
Using a blending tool or your finger bring together all the brown colors.
Step 8: When you thing of drawing a tree what stops you. For
me it was the leaves, but after learning a few tricks I learned they are not so
bad. Autumn leaves are fading in color and falling. The first color we will use
is Sienna.
Go through each branch and make small oval type circles. You don’t have to fill
each one in because they are so small you don’t have to overwhelm yourself with
details. Keep some leaves together and sparsely
across the branches. Once you have a good coverage across all your branches add
a few more falling off. Finally the last color to add to the lovely colors of
Fall. Using the Yellow Orange add more leaves mixed in with the Sienna leaves.
Add some more falling off, and step back and look at the tree as a whole to make
sure your tree is not empty in one area, and over filled in another. Once you are satisfied, your original tree is
complete and ready for Autumn.
Thank you joining me here on my blog. I would like to see your results. Share them with me on my Facebook page at http://Facebook.com/HalfEvilProductions
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions feel free to contact me.
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