Paint A Gum Tree Butt
See here how to paint a gum tree butt with a few brushstrokes.
We first paint a pale background, then the darker foreground and create a feeling of great distance between the gum tree and the horizon.
When painting this paint a gum tree butt exercise, we deliberately go about painting your distant tones in white with a small amount of added color. Then paint your foreground in full color with a small amount of white added where needed.
If you wish you may learn how to paint a gum tree butt by using the painting knife.
The dark paint at the bottom of the tree may be sculptured on with the painting knife.
We see the pale trees in the background are not detailed, we see the big tree has much detail; this will give you a feeling of distance also. The middle ground tree is neither dark nor pale and has a degree of detail. Keep the horizon low, the sky from white to very dark.
Keep the background trees small, pale and of various heights and shapes, they should not dip down at the edge of the painting.
A straight white horizontal line below the distant trees will draw the viewer’s eye back into the painting.
This short tutorial video will show you how to paint a gum tree butt into a landscape.
Make sure there are amounts of very dark color in your big tree foliage and trunk and also in the bottom corners where we have thick grass.
Do not try to copy my painting exactly but use it as an example of an arrangement.
If you try to copy too much or go back over your work too much you will over work your painting and it will lose its vibrancy.
The colors are Burnt Umber and White. (Titanium White for oils)
You may wish to use another dark color in place of the Burnt Umber.
Keep the background low.
Let the big tree appear to go well up beyond the top of the canvas.
This exercise is one of the most successful paintings by many beginners.