Materials
Painting a cherry blossom tree on canvas requires certain materials that differ depending on the approach you choose. Using acrylics, you’ll need a canvas, primer, paint brushes of different sizes and shapes, acrylic paints and a pallet. If you’re using oil paints, it’s best to use stiffer brushes, ordinary oils, a white oil or a gesso to prime the canvas. It’s important to create a number of test samples before you actually start painting your cherry blossom tree, because the results usually vary depending on the materials and the technique used.
Precautions
When painting a cherry blossom tree, it’s important to take safety precautions. You’ll need to ensure that you’re in a well-ventilated area, as acrylic and oil paints can be toxic when inhaled. It’s also important to protect your hands, eyes, and clothing with appropriate gear. According to art expert, Ernie Ward, “you want to make sure you cover yourself up so the dirt and paint won’t get in your eyes or mouth”.
Drawing the Tree
When drawing a cherry blossom tree on canvas, it’s important to understand the anatomy of a cherry blossom tree before starting. Start by lightly sketching the tree without any details. Carefully observe the reference photograph of the tree. After sketching the tree, you may use a thicker brush to draw any details like the branches of the tree, the petals of the flowers and other foliage. At this point, you can darken the lines and create an outline of the tree you’re going to paint. You can also fill the darkness of the tree.
Painting the Tree
After completing the outline of the tree, you can start painting it with acrylic or oil. Art instructor, Stephanie Sheehan claims that “using Acrylic gives you the opportunity to work piece by piece, but oil is better for recreating texture”. You can layer the paint to create depth and texture throughout the painting. The key to making a clear and beautiful painting is to slowly build up the layers of paint until you achieve a desired effect.
Blending the Paint
After painting the tree, you can start blending the paint. When blending the paint, use soft brushes and blend until the paint looks smooth. This will make the tree look realistic. Remember to use either a damp brush or a damp cloth, to blend the paint as it will help to reduce harsh transition lines.
Creating the Fine Details
Once you have blended the paint, you can start adding the finer details to make the painting look more realistic. You can erase any hard lines, by using a wet brush and water to rub away those hard lines.Art expert, Edward Framer, suggests to “add small details like the shadows on the leaves and petals and the texture of the tree trunk to make the painting look realistic”.
Adding Colour
The final step is to add the colours to the painting. When it comes to painting cherry blossom trees, white and pink are the signature colours. It’s important to use the correct shades of pink or white – depending on the variety of cherry blossom tree. You can also use different shades of blues and greens to create a more interesting painting.
Shading
Once you’ve added the colours to the painting, you can start shading. Shading is a great way to add realism and depth to the painting. You can vary the shade of the colours to create a more dynamic painting. For example, you can use lighter or darker shades of pink to create a variation in the painting.
Adding Shadow and Highlights
Shadow and highlights bring life to the painting. Shadows can be used to create a three-dimensional effect in the painting and highlight can be used to create an illuminated effect. The trick to creating realistic shadows and highlights is to layer the colour and blend it slowly to create shadows on the tree.
Texturing the Background
To create a more realistic effect, you can add texture to the background. To do this, you’ll need to use different shades of hemp oils and washes. Ernie Ward suggests that “you want to layer the paint on the background and blend it slightly to create a subtle texture”. This will make the painting look more realistic and give it a vibrant feel.
Finishing the Painting
Once you’ve completed the painting, you can apply a clear topcoat. The topcoat will protect the painting from fading and discolouration caused by exposure to UV light. After the topcoat has dried, you can add a few finishing touches like a signature or a quote. This will make the painting look more professional and increase its value.
Adding Contrast
One of the best ways to make your painting stand out is to add contrast. This can be done by adding darker shades of paint to certain areas in order to create depth and dimension in the painting. Art expert, Sarah White, suggests that “contrasting colours can help bring your painting to life, and make the tree look more realistic”.
Palette of Colours
Choosing the right palette of colours is essential when painting a cherry blossom tree. Light pink, pale pink, dusty pink and warm pink are some of the preferred colours for cherry blossom trees. You can also use complimenting colours, like blues and greens, to make the painting more interesting. The key is to experiment with different colours and see what works best.
Using Stencils
Using stencils can be a great way to add texture and detail to your painting. Painting specialist, Diane Martin, suggests that “stencils can be used to outline the tree, to create the trunk and to add finer details to the painting”. Stencils can also be used to create shading effects in the painting.
Using Different Brushes
When painting a cherry blossom tree, it’s important to use different brushes to create different effects. Use thick brushes to outline the tree and thin brushes to create the intricate details in the painting. It’s also important to use soft brushes to blend the paint. This will make the tree look more realistic.
Challenges
Painting a cherry blossom tree can be challenging, especially for beginner artists. Art teacher, Maria Schafer, claims that “the biggest challenge for beginners is getting the balance of the colours and tones right. Not to mention the intricate details that need to be added to make the painting look realistic”. To overcome this challenge, it is important to practice and to take your time when painting the tree.