Loose Landscapes
Lessons

Lesson 3 of 4 · 40 minutes

Trees and hedges

Build a country lane from three greens, light to dark, and paint a tree that looks like it grows.

You'll need

Your greensMixed from ultramarine, ochre and burnt sienna
Two brushesSize 10 and size 4 rounds
For textureA half-dry brush and kitchen paper
PaperA quarter sheet, taped down

Step by step

40 min

  1. Stage 1: light first

    1 of 3

    Light first

    Wash a pale sky and a light yellow-green field across the whole sheet. Let it dry completely.

    Everything after this goes on top, so keep it pale.

  2. Stage 2: mid greens and the lane

    2 of 3

    Mid greens and the lane

    Mix a mid green and paint the hedges on each side of a lane that narrows to a point. Leave the lane warm ochre.

    Vary the green as you go: more ochre in the sun, more blue in the shade.

  3. Stage 3: darks and the tree

    3 of 3

    Darks and the tree

    With your darkest green, paint the shadows under the hedges. Then the tree: trunk first, foliage in three greens dabbed with the side of the brush.

    Drag a nearly dry brush across the field for grass.

Lesson 3 done on : its pan is full

Dark greens last, light ones first

Next: lesson 4

Finished all three steps?

Mark the lesson done and pan 3 fills in your paintbox.

Your assignment

Nadia's painting for this lesson: a watercolour country lane between green hedges, narrowing to a point, with a round tree on the left

A hedge-lined lane with one tree, light to dark.

Photograph it flat, in daylight, and hand it in. Nadia writes back within 3 working days.

Hand in your painting

Your hand-ins for this lesson

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Your painting for this lesson
Tutor reviewing

Lesson 2 · Skies

Handed in on

  1. Sent
  2. Reviewing
  3. Notes ready

Nadia replies within 3 working days of handing in.

I lifted the clouds with a tissue but the edges came out hard. Did I wait too long?

Nadia's notes

Nothing handed in for this lesson yet. Your painting and Nadia's notes show here.

Hand in your painting

You'll need

Your greensMixed from ultramarine, ochre and burnt sienna
Two brushesSize 10 and size 4 rounds
For textureA half-dry brush and kitchen paper
PaperA quarter sheet, taped down

Your assignment

Nadia's painting for this lesson: a watercolour country lane between green hedges, narrowing to a point, with a round tree on the left

A hedge-lined lane with one tree, light to dark.

Photograph it flat, in daylight, and hand it in. Nadia writes back within 3 working days.

Hand in your painting
Step 1: Light firstIllustrated, with a tip
Step 2: Mid greens and the laneIllustrated, with a tip
Step 3: Darks and the treeIllustrated, with a tip

This lesson is in the full course

Lessons 2 to 4 and written feedback on every painting you hand in, for £12 a month. Stop any time with Manage billing.

Back to lesson 1

Lesson 3 of 4 · 40 minutes

Trees and hedges

Build a country lane from three greens, light to dark, and paint a tree that looks like it grows.

Part of the full course, £12 a monthLessons 2 to 4 and written feedback on every painting. Stop any time.

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Or start with lesson 1, free. Your first sign-in sets up your account. For adults aged 18 and over.