Tree Painting Step-by-Step Demo: Forest in the Style of Klimt

Building Up Color in the Forest Floor

Getting the overall tone right, not too dark and not too light.

Image: ©2007 Marion Boddy-Evans. Licensed to About.com, Inc.

These photos show how I built up color on the forest floor using various colors, painted in short lines. By working in a consistent direction, the lines give a feeling of direction and height to the forest floor, as if the trees go up a slight hill.

The colors used include a little of the cerulean blue used for the background of the sky, the green-gold, raw umber, and quinacridone burnt orange.

• The Inspiration for the Klimt-style Tree Painting
• Starting with a Sketch and the Basic Background Color
• Positioning the Trees
• Building Up Color in the Forest Floor
• Darkening and Brightening Colors
• The Final Painting