Easy fall tree or snow scene

 These two pictures are done almost exactly the same, just using different colors. The first time I posted on this blog was July 5 of 2016, so you can look there for more detailed instructions and some of the student work.

Basically, you tape off trees with torn masking tape. In the snow scene, we also masked off a cabin in the background. You can spatter some miskit onto the paper then. (We didn't do that today because of limited time in class.) 

For the snow scene: Paint blue over the entire paper, darker at the top. I think I used French ultramarine. Leave some whites for snowy areas. Then sprinkle some salt.

 For the fall scene, wet the top of the paper and drop in your favorite fall colors. While paint is still shiny, drop in salt. If the paper is still damp enough, use the tip of a brush or credit card to score in some distant small branches. (You can see those on the right)

You can paint a little blue or green on the bottom, turn the painting upside down, and let lines run through the tree colors to appear like trees in the distance.

The pic on the right shows after I've removed all tape and salt. On the left I've begun to paint the trees, as explained in the July 5 2016 blog. Going about 2 inches at a time, paint dark paint (you can use burnt sienna with french ultramarine or whatever you choose), wet onto dry paper. Scrape a butter knife or side of a credit card , starting on the paint side, through the tree side to side. To create even more bark-like texture, drop some clean water into it as it dries to create small blossoms. 

For the hills on the fall trees, paint the farthest hill in blue and drop in a little orange to dull it.

then paint the forward hill with some green and spatter oranges and burnt sienna into it to create the look of fallen leaves.

For the hills on the snow scene, darken the area between the hills with blue and soften the edge that goes toward the top...this will look like snow is on a hillside. Paint in some tree shadows.

Then, with white paint, spatter over the blues to create even more of a snowy effect. 

SALTING TIP: The larger the salt, the larger the blossom effect, so I used table salt or popcorn salt for snow falling; kosher salt for puffs of snow. Any salt for the leaves on the fall scene.

Put a little salt in your hand. Holding your hand 10-12 inches from the painting, gently pinch a little at a time onto the wet paint. PAINT NEEDS TO BE SHINY, not puddly or drying.

IF YOUR PAINT GOT TOO DRY, try spattering drops of water over it for a similar effect as salt. It will create tiny blossoms on drying paper.