Trees are a wonderful and dynamic subject to paint. You could spend a lifetime painting them and not get bored (many artists have). They are also the perfect vehicle for studying light, shadow, structure, and color. If you want to improve as an artist, then trees should be one of your common subjects.
Introducing the Tree Workshop
The idea of the Workshop is simple. We will create a tree painting together, step by step, from coming up with an idea, all the way through to reflecting on your finished work. By the end, you’ll have a tree painting you can be proud of. I'm sure you'll also have a few 'a-ha' moments along the way.
We will then feature everyone’s work in the student gallery (unless you want to keep your work private, which is fine!). It will be a showcase of trees from all over the world, in all kinds of styles and mediums. I would love for you to take part in it.
Hi, I’m Dan Scott
I’m the artist behind Draw Paint Academy, which I run with my wife Chontele. We have dedicated our lives to helping aspiring artists like you. The world could always use more artists!
I don't want you to paint like me, unless you want to. Rather, I want to give you the tools and knowledge so that you can develop your own style and say what you want to say about the subject.
I have been painting trees since I was a child. They play a role in almost all my landscapes. I want to share some of what I've learned with you in this Workshop.
Workshop Format
The Workshop is set out as follows:
- Resource Hub: Includes over 300 master tree paintings and drawings, my best tree reference photos, and helpful links and readings. Many students find our resource hubs to be worth the price of admission alone.
- Part 1: Subject and Idea
- Part 2: Planning and Strategy
- Part 3: The Painting Process
- Part 4: Reflection
- Student Gallery: A showcase of trees from all over the world, in all kinds of styles and mediums.
I'll also send emails with additional information and to guide you through the Workshop.
Workshop Highlights
Here are some of the things you'll learn in this Workshop:
- How to nurture and refine an idea into something worth painting.
- How to identify interesting aspects and features of the subject that you can highlight in your painting.
- How to crop the subject to make the focal point stronger.
- How to use artificial intelligence to remove elements of the reference photo that detract from the subject (whilst staying faithful to the subject).
- How to use technology to aid your process without stripping the joy out of it.
- An easy way to start a painting when confronted with a busy subject.
- How to identify and push a strong color theme (warm lights, cool shadows).
- How to paint dappled light.
- How to paint leaves without getting caught up in the tiny details.
- How to inject a sense of movement and life into the painting.
- How to depart from the reference photo whilst staying faithful to the subject.
- How to create a beautiful dance of color to suggest purple and blue flowers.
- How to suggest fallen flowers on the ground without overdoing it.
- How to get the most out of just a few brushes and palette knives.
- How to use a diagonal theme to make the painting appear more dynamic and active.
- How to use broken color and multicolored strokes effectively.
- How to combine wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry techniques.
- When to use a brush and when to use a palette knife.
- How to combine brushwork and palette knife strikes in a harmonious way.
- How to change the color of an area without changing the fundamental structure.
- How to paint background areas in a way that they appear realistic without commanding too much attention.
- How to reflect on your work so that your next painting is just a little bit better.
- How to view your work objectively and without ego and bias.
- Three simple questions you can ask yourself when reflecting on your work.
Stop Getting Stuck in the Tiny Details and Learn How to Simplify!
Most artists get overwhelmed trying to paint every leaf or detail. In this Workshop, you'll learn how to simplify the subject and paint the illusion of detail. This will allow you to create paintings that are stronger and more concise. Remember, less is often more in painting.
A Reliable and Repeatable Framework You Can Use for All Your Paintings
I don't usually like frameworks and recipes. They tend to restrict and limit our thinking. However, they can be helpful, particularly for beginners. This Workshop will give you a reliable and repeatable framework that you can use for all your paintings, not just those of trees.
Gain a Deeper Appreciation of Nature and Your Surroundings
By the end of this Workshop, you’ll start to look at trees in a different light. A tree will no longer be just a tree, but rather a beautiful and dynamic display of color, shape, form, light, shadow, and texture. You’ll also look at nature in a deeper and more appreciative way. The better we are able to observe nature, the more we can appreciate it.
What to Expect Once You Enroll
Once you enroll, you’ll get an email welcoming you to the Workshop and providing you with the next steps. If you’re new here, we will set you up with an account and provide you with login details.
You’ll be able to access the Workshop from your student dashboard. This is an online portal that you can access from any device, as long as you have an internet connection.
You’ll have immediate and lifetime access to all the Workshop content. We will also use email to guide you through the Workshop and provide additional information as needed.
If at any point you have questions or need help, we will be happy to help.
Suitable for All Traditional Mediums and Representational Styles
I use oils and paint in an impressionistic and realistic style, but the Workshop is suitable for all mediums and representational styles. We have artists of all kinds go through our workshops and courses.
I don't want you to paint like me. Rather, I want you to find your "voice" as an artist. One of the key ideas behind this Workshop is to go through the painting process together with a similar subject, and see what we all come up with. By the end, we will display a vast range of trees around the world, in all kinds of styles and mediums.
Lifetime Access for a One-Time Payment of $57 USD
“If a painting of a tree was only the exact representation of the original, so that it looked just like the tree, there would be no reason for making it; we might as well look at the tree itself. But the painting, if it is of the right sort, gives something that neither a photograph nor a view of the tree conveys. It emphasizes something of character, quality, individuality. We are not lost in looking at thorns and defects; we catch a vision of the grandeur and beauty of a king of the forest.” - Calvin Coolidge
Is This Beginner Friendly?
You'll be fine to join if you're new to painting. However, I also recommend you go through the fundamentals course on the side.
Your Questions Answered
All lessons have a comment section where you can leave any questions or thoughts. Chontele and I will be available to answer these questions. Other students might also lend a hand. You can also email us directly if you need help.
Testimonials
We had over 500 students enroll in our first Tree Workshop, which we opened last year. Here is what some of our students had to say about the workshop:
"I really enjoyed becoming aware of what I am painting, and why I want to paint it. I used to just see a picture and think, oh I like that one, I can paint it. Now I am starting to analyze why and it makes a big difference in my choices. Thank you for al your support. It’s great!" - P Carson
"Fabulous!! I found several parts of this workshop to be extremely helpful.
1. Composition - There were so many good tips on thinking about the composition prior to having a go at the painting. Dan was very specific about why he wanted/didn't want certain things in the picture, and what should be highlighted or minimized.
2. Step by step process. The sequential steps Dan spelled out for approaching the painting were very helpful for me, especially since they were different from my normal initiation of a painting. I methodically read and re-read his notes to force myself to slow down and THINK about what I was doing (broad lights and darks, then getting the shapes in, then adding texture/colors....all thew while saving detailing for later). The specific bits he showed on his own painting (scumbling, melding the sky with tree flowers, brush strokes on the diagonal approach) were delightful, and reminders that small things do matter.
3. "Forced" reflection. This was huge!!! Rather than abstractly fumbling around, the worksheet for planning and post-painting reflection forced more ordered thought. The emphasis Dan makes on preparation and thinking about the process is a game-changer!
I'm very grateful for your help and gentle demeanor with your class. Many thanks for all you do!!" - S Gillison
"The Workshop follows a very comprehensive step by step methodology for creating a successful, inspired image of a tree(s). It’s extremely helpful for a developing artist to learn how to go about making ones subject selection based on points of interest such as composition, light, variations in texture etc before even touching the canvas. Dan’s course highlights the importance of this step by including resource material and a huge selection of historical examples of both paintings and drawings. These examples, not only provide inspiration, but also encourage one to think about techniques employed by the master artists to achieve their goals. Dan’s pictorial inclusion, both still and video footage, of his own work and his thought processes regarding his approach as it progresses toward completion enhance the learning experience. Finally, the eagerly awaited critique at the end gives the course that more intimate quality that is found in a studio setting. Dan has the ability to offer constructive criticism without discouraging the artist because he manages to find strengths in each students work regardless of ability. This is a gift. Great course!!" - A Niebel
"I love Dan's methods of teaching. This particular lesson on trees helped me to focus on placement and color and to stop fretting over too much detail. I appreciate his examples from master painters including Dan's own work. Dan has inspired me over the years online with his methods of study and generosity to share what he has gleamed from trial and error. Thank you for this lesson on Trees, you helped me to pick up my paint brush again!" - R Sonne
"I liked the approach of picking a clear subject and working around that to create interesting little nooks for the viewer's eye to wander. The breakdown of supplies, steps, and thought processes are really helpful. I like the simplicity of process and the discussion around the choices you made in completing the painting." - B Wagner
"This course taught me to not merely glance at my subject but to observe, analyze its structure, see the light defining it, and transfer that image to the canvas." - W Ginther
"I very much enjoyed this workshop. It gave me a boost and got me back to painting trees in oil." - K Siem
"As someone new to painting, I appreciate the step by step explanation of the process of painting. It was also mentally stimulating to answer the questions presented with each step - it made for a more thoughtful painting. But the best part is the privilege of having Dan critique our paintings! The best way to learn is to hear constructive comments." - D Henderson
"I am very impressed with the amount of research you put into a course. The resource material is excellent! Thank you also for your personal critiques of each student's painting. It really helps to view something through an educated eye. I think I have taken all your Workshops, and each one is special and gives me confidence to try new techniques and to experiment." - L Dobbin
"I like how you take us through the whole process in a disciplined way, beginning with big picture and what we want to convey, before moving on to actual painting. I really appreciate your photos and how you go about your own process, without wanting us to copy what you do. It's so cool seeing trees from all around the world!" - A Morgan
" I enjoyed the experience of finding the tree to paint, planning and eventually painting the tree. I spend a long time planning as the picture I chose had too much happening in it . There was too much in the background and surrounding the tree. I had no idea how to paint it all. I needed to simplify and eventually I painted the tree with imaginary surrounding and foreground. It was a wonderful learning experience. I learned a lot about color mixing and looking at shapes rather than the whole picture." - A Dzierzek
"Thank you for offering this workshop. I love trees but I am not a natural landscape painter. I struggle with the execution of the organic nature of landscapes, not so much the drawing of them, but translating what I see into a painting that I feel I truly like. I'm usually much more successful in people and animal oriented themes. But you need to use landscapes in these as well if I'm doing a genre painting. I feel the course format was laid out well and had good progression. Certainly easy for me, anyway, to follow. Also I like the student dashboard...it's easy to get in and out of and it's good to be able to move back and forth between modules for refresher a reference. I also feel the courses a reasonably priced, so thank you for that.." - K Erbe
Frequently Asked Questions
My 100% Guarantee
Your satisfaction is my number one priority. If for any reason you do not enjoy the Workshop, just send me an email within 60 days of purchase and I will refund you in full.
Lifetime Access for a One-Time Payment of $57 USD
If you have any questions, you can email me at admin@drawpaintacademy.com. Hope to see you in the Workshop!