Making a realistic acrylic painting of a decorated Christmas tree requires an eye for detail.
Acrylic paints are a versatile art medium that can be used for realistic painting on paper, canvas, wood or even an interior wall or other similar surface. This plastic byproduct also dries quickly, which is a definite plus for many painters. With a small investment in paints, brushes and paper or canvas, plus a little time, it is feasible to render a Christmas tree covered with electric lights.
Instructions
1. Practice drawing a Christmas tree with a pencil on the pages of the drawing pad. For most, portraying the tree might require more practice than rendering the string of lights and bulbs that is wrapped around the evergreen. On your sketch, be sure to include an outline for each bulb, as well as the dark cord running between each light. Use a pencil to create light and dark portions of the needles. Do not be concerned if you make a mistake. Use your eraser to remove it and try again.
2. Draw the final outline of the tree, electric cord, light bulbs and any other ornaments that you like on on the watercolor paper. Use a pencil, making sure your pencil marks are very light.
3. Gather your paints, brushes, water and color-mixing palette.
4. On the palette, mix a highlight color for the evergreen needles of the tree. Permanent green mixed with a small amount of yellow ochre or chromium green mixed with cadmium yellow are good starting points. For painting on paper, acrylic paints can be thinned with water.
5. Practice creating evergreen needles by applying the paint, using short, quick strokes, on a practice piece of dry paper using the flat brush.
6. Create a darker green for the shadow areas of the evergreen needles. This can be done by mixing one of your green paints with ultramarine or cobalt blue. When you have achieved the desired color, apply the paint to the practice sheet in the same manner as you did the highlight color, using your brushstrokes to create the appearance of needles.
7. Apply the light and dark green paints to the tree area on the watercolor paper.
8. Mix the cadmium yellow with a small amount of water on the palette to create a thin yellow color. The hue of the mixed paint should be close, but not the same as, a bright primary yellow.
9. Practice painting the yellow bulbs on a scrap of watercolor paper. With a clean, pointed round brush, add a dot of water to the center of the first bulb that you wish to paint yellow. Dry the brush, and then add the thin yellow paint to the edge of the centered wet spot; spread the paint outward on the bulb, until the pigment fills the outline of the bulb. Before the water has a chance to dry, darken the perimeter of the bulb with a wet mixture of some yellow ochre. When done correctly, the center area of the bulb should be lighter than the outer edges, making the bulb appear as if it is glowing. There should be a gradual change of color, with the washed-out yellow in the center moving to a midrange cadmium yellow and then to a darker yellow ochre at the perimeter of the bulb.
10. Paint the bulbs on your tree when you are finished practicing.
11. Repeat this process for each yellow bulb, and then move on to bulbs that are a different color, using the same technique.
12. Render any other tree ornament to the best of your ability.
13. Take your wash water and apply it to the area outside the tree to create a nondescript background.
