snowy Mountain Birch PM demo

Snowy Mountain Birch PM demo Reference shot

Snowy Mountain Birch AM demo

Snowy Mountain Birch Am Reference picture

An example of tracing basic lines of composition. to help you simplify forms.

First stage of drawing with simple lines to organize composition.

The addition of  evergreens, simplified and "neatened up" to enhance composition.

Mask birches with flat brush using side strokes for thinner trees. Remember to have trees thicker on bottom than top.
Add a few sideways marks on evergreens to imply snow dusting.

Beginning with sky I added billowy clouds with peach undertones to later be repeated in hillside and birch bark.

First layer of shadows on snow. I used a little salt in foreground to imply snow shadows

VT Winter PM Demo

Vt  Winter Reference Photo

Drawing with mask. Keep lines clean. Simplify composition.
.Only add trees that add to painting. Eliminate clutter.

Start with sky and light washes on frozen stream and hillside.

Add first layer of melted stream with warm reflections from mountain.
Save tree reflections for later.

Start to build up shadows on snow and icy edge.

Here I changed icy edge to go off left border for a stronger composition. I also started to build up brambles with a crimson blend.

I then put a second layer of mask on distant stand of trees . Let it dry and then added a second layer of paint, enhancing the golden light and adding depth to the trees. Then I added another layer to ice.

Then I worked on reflection in water, mimicking trees in middle ground..while still damp lift a few horizontal lines to add movement in water.

VT WINTER STREAM AM

This piece is inspired from Okemo  Mountain driving in to Ludlow

Vt Winter stream Am Demo Reference shot.

Keep drawing simple. Edit out clutter.

Mask foreground trees

Start with sky and then add washes on ice and snow.

Now start on distant mountain and back band of trees.

Next I started  building up shadows on ice.

Now I added the first layer of water adding the warm reflections of the distant mountain. Don't add tree reflections until later.

Next I added a second layer of mask to distant trees and then added a darker brown to give the distant stand of trees more depth.

Using cool purple, blue shadows I began to build up the snow and ice.

I then added more shadow to left side of ice and then raised the mountain up on the left to correct the composition.