My skills at drawing trees is sub-par at best. I've got two problems The first being everytime I draw a tree it turns out looking like something out of a old steamboat willie cartoon. I can't seem to ever get a real look to them. Second is while trying to paint a tree in the almost endless mixtures of acrylic and mediums can never seem to get it right. If sombody could throw me some advice would be very greatful

welcome captain. Did you see other people's work in the forum thread TREES?
Sketching from life improves your skills as you see the living tree and grasp proportions and shape, color, texture.
Now it's summer and we can go outside and observe trees.

You can also try a different approach, illustration of a tree in which you can identify and draw from reference or imagination the basics of a tree, trunk, branches, foliage,crown.

Come join us in the trees thread and post your attempts there. The topic is moderated by our DS teacher, Jeanette.


here is my brush practice from imagination,

see some reference here:

painting a tree

botanic

trees

tree drawing tutorial

more step by step and video.

have you tried drawing your trees upside down? that helps too.

I tried that! Ended up with a heap of dead trees!

Trees are complex and sometimes when faced with that tangle of branches and leaves, it becomes daunting and we end up drawing the kind of tree we drew when we were five years old. You have to move past that and draw EXACTLY what you see., no matter what your mind is telling you.

Take time to observe and think about the tree when you draw it. Look at the overall shape, how the trunk is formed, where do the branches extend from the trunk, can you see sky through the network of leaves and branches; what shape are the leaves, how do they intersect with each other, what colour are they, what colour is the bark; does it have texture? These things become second nature to you as your progress with your drawing and after lots of practice.

As for painting trees, you need to use a similar method, but look at values more closely, especially if you're dealing with a landscape scene of masses of trees. Squint your eyes to eliminate some detail and help you see the overall areas of light and shade. Think about the colours you see and how you'll translate them into paint. Tree trunks aren't flat brown. They can be cream, blue, red, yellow and everything in between. Use colours to bring life to your paintings. It really is all about observing carefully then putting that into action.

My advice? Take your time, observe carefully, draw only what you see and practice, practice, practice.

Thank you very much for the advice.
THank you ElenaM going trough some of the other forums. going to go practice..

Does anybody know who is the owner of the Drawspace site?????
i really need Miss Brenda Hoddinot to add a sketching of a horse with a long hair and hairy hairy long tail in the site.
actually this kind of horse doesn't really exists in the Fact.
this is an example of the kind of horse i wanna draw.

Hi Mrs Brenda owns the site, your unicorn merely needs the horse tutorial and the rest is fantasy..find a nice horse tutorial and go from there with an exaggerated mane/tail and a horn in the middle..

horse tutorial


here is a link to a great horse tutorial, hope that helps

thanx so much because you replied
and really thia tutorial is absolutely great
thanks so much

Hello everybody
I need a little help....
does anyone knows what's the E-mail of Miss Hoddinot
I want her to make to us many drawing by her way
I love her way very much " steps , the way of drawing.....etc"
anybody knows a way to communicate with Miss Brenda ....by email....internet

We use 'The Force' But you could always look at the many tutorials available here at Drawspace.

lol..that is too funny...

sweetie, Mrs. brenda has given us so much by giving us this forum and the very many free lessons here.
there are several books such as the 123 draw books that focus specifically on subjects. for instance one focuses on birds, while another may focus on horses, or dogs etc...

if you could find a tutorial you were comfortable with, (just type horse drawing tutorial) I am sure you can find one that could help you, what exactly is it that you need help with? also there are classes here too you can sign up for,

Actually I am Egyptian
we don't have here any books of drawings or tutorial and I need Miss Brenda drawing not anybody else because I am comfortable with the way Miss Brenda draw.
While I am from Egypt and live in Egypt so I can't go to any classes of Brenda