Class Project Description:

Paint A Fantasy Forest In Watercolor Using Masking Tape And Cling Wrap

For your class project paint your own Fantasy Forest With Aspen Trees using the techniques you learned in this class. (You can use the step-by-step guide below to guide you.)

Make sure you post your finished painting on the class project gallery.

I can’t wait to see what you create!

Step-by-step guide to painting A Fantasy Forest In Watercolor Using Masking Tape and Cling-wrap:

Get your supplies ready.

(Watercolor paper, Watercolor palette, brushes, 2 water containers, masking tape, cling wrap, paper towels, X-acto knife (Optional)

Tear or cut out strips of masking tape for your tree trunks.
Apply the masking tape strips on your watercolor paper to create the tree trunks.

Remember to place them in a pleasing pattern. (Odd numbers of trunks work best.)

Mix puddles of the watercolors you want to use for your background.
Wet the whole painting with clean water using a large watercolor brush.

Paint in the colors from your puddles and let them mix and mingle on the watercolor paper.

(You can spray in more water, if the colors don’t flow enough.)

When you are satisfied with the background colors, take your cling wrap and gently arrange it on top of your wet painting. Take your time to create patterns you like, then press down the cling wrap and place a heavy book on top of it.
Let the painting dry. (This is a good time to practice your dry-brush technique for the tree trunks.)
When the painting is completely dry, remove the cling wrap and evaluate your background.

(This is a great stage to take a photo and share your progress to the Project Gallery!)

Look for patterns you want to emphasize, and paint in areas you want to darken.

Gently lift out paint in areas you want to lighten with a damp, clean brush, dapping up the excess paint with a clean tissue. To darken areas use a similar color and layer it over the area you want to make darker.

When you are happy with the background it’s time to remove the masking tape to reveal the Aspen trunks.
(This is a great stage to take another photo and share your progress to the Project Gallery!)

Decide which side the light comes from, and paint in a soft shadow on the opposite side of each tree trunk.
Let the tree trunks dry completely, before you paint in the dark markings using an almost dry brush loaded with heavy, dark pigment. Lightly drag the side of the brush over the area you want to paint, so you get a dry-brush effect.

(The dry-brush technique takes a little practice, so I suggest you practice on a scrap piece of watercolor paper first.)

Congratulations! You have created your own Fantasy Forest painting!

Please take a photo of your finished painting and share to the Project Gallery!

I can’t wait to see all your magical watercolor paintings!

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Elle Salmonson

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