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by Janice Tingum
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Leaf Painting Demos
 

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Wet-in-wet watercolor leaf painting:  This method is done very quickly while the leaf shape is still wet.  Do not allow the paint to dry between steps.

 

 

 

Paints:

Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor Intense Blue (Phthalo Blue)

Winsor & Newton Cotman brand Cadmium Yello

 

Paper:

Fabriano Artistico Extra White 140 lbs. Hot Pressed

 

Brush:

Winsor & Newton Cotman brand #777 flat 1/2"  


Instructions

 

Step 1: Paint the shape of a leaf with a clean brush and clean water.

 

Step 2: While the leaf shape is still wet, dip the brush in the Phthalo Blue paint and dab a drop or two onto the the leaf.

 

Step 3: Quickly clean the brush and dip it into the Cadmium Yellow paint.  Dab a drop or two of the yellow paint into the still-wet leaf.

 

Step 4: Let the paints mingle on their own or encourage them gently by tipping the paper.  Allow the painting to dry completely.

 

Winsor & Newton™  is a trademark.

Fabriano® is a registered trademark.

 

 

 

Creating veins in a watercolor leaf :  

 

These veins were "pulled out" of the wet yellow paint with the tip of a damp flat brush.
 

 

While the paint on this leaf shape was still wet, the veins were scraped out with the sharp tip at the handle end of a brush.


 

 

Another way to create veins is to simply paint them in with a rigger brush.

 

 

 

 

 

Glazing with watercolors : 

 

 

 

Layer 1: A  thin glaze of Cadmium Yellow was painted in the shape of a leaf and allowed to dry completely before going to Layer 2.

 

Layer 2: A thin glaze of Ultramarine Blue was applied to the left side of the leaf.  A wet brush was used to soften the edge of the blue, allowing it to gently blend towards the middle of the leaf. 

 
Layer 3: After Layer 2 was dry, another thin glaze of Ultramarine Blue was applied to the left edge of the leaf, again blending with a wet brush to avoid a hard edge.  Veins were created with a rigger brush and a light amount of Ultramarine Blue.