Charlotte Hird

A tutorial for beginners to intermediate watercolourists.
In this exercise we will make a painting of some trees using the negative painting technique. Each tree is defined by painting the space around the tree. The foreground trees will be lighter and the trees further into the forest will be darker. What you do not paint becomes the focus and those highlights on the tree trunks become the focus.

This negative painting technique requires numerous glazes which can become muddy if you use opaque paints. Use transparent paints to allow multiple glazes to glow. Check the label on your colours to determine if they are transparent.

When drawing the composition keep it simple and clear. Create interesting negative spaces between the trees and branches. You might not draw everything in pencil first and improvise later. I added the stag and the steps later.

To keep it simple I have used Daniel Smith Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna in this painting. Both are semi-transparent pigments and produce a variety of colours from orange, blue, brown through to black.
Use a variety of hard edges and soft edges to make the painting interesting, with places for the eye to wander and wonder. Placing the darkest part right next to the lightest part can intensify the focal area.
Tips for your composition - planning is crucial for a successful watercolour painting, keep it simple when drawing the composition. Limit the trees and consider carefully the spaces between. Create a flow in your composition to draw the viewers eye through the painting to the desired area of interest
Create a strategy for working in the negative - like starting with the top or front object.

Step by step guide to painting negative space around trees

Step 1 Draw the trees.
In this painting we will just use Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Sienna to give a great range of colours from light blue, brown, orange through to black

Step 2 Wet the whole page and paint a light wash of burnt sienna. You will need to let it dry as we need hard edges for the tree trunks

Step 3 Use a light wash of burnt sienna to paint all the background except the three large foreground tree trunks keep them the light first wash colour.
Dry the painting again before proceeding.

Step 4 Mix a touch of Ultramarine Blue into the Burnt Sienna to get a darker tone to the previous wash and paint the gaps between the trees. Soften the edges of this new colour to blend into the previous colour.

Step 5 Each time go darker by mixing more Ultramarine Blue into the Burnt Sienna. Each time the tree trunks will be darker than the previous trunks and the gaps between will be darker yet.

Step 6 Put some details into the painting. Small branches, twigs and steps. I placed a stag at bay behind a tree and painted it using the negative method. I painted around the animal and then filled in some details.

Stand back from your work regularly to assess the affect as you create. Enjoy this different form of watercolour magic.