Add a Tropical Vibe to Your Beach Scene with Easy Palm Trees
Are you looking to enhance your beach scene painting with a touch of the tropics? Look no further! These easy steps will guide you through painting palm trees, adding a delightful and exotic element to your artwork.
These palm trees are perfect for beginners, making them an enjoyable and accessible project for artists of all levels. Whether you’re working on a canvas or paper, these instructions will help you create beautiful palm trees to complete your tropical masterpiece.
Painting the Trunk of the Palm Tree
Begin by sketching a quick guideline for the palm trees. This simple step will help you stay on track while painting the trunk.
Load your #12 flat brush with Burnt Umber and a lighter brown paint, such as Coffee Latte with a touch of Parchment to achieve the desired shade. Use a shortened slider leaf stroke technique, stacking them on top of each other. Gradually narrow the size as you move closer to the top of the trunk.
Adding the Palm Fronds
Load your brush with Thicket and Cut Grass to double load the bristles. Paint the spars of the palm fronds, creating an almost star-shaped structure.
Reload your brush with the green paint mixture. Add the palm fronds using shorter chisel-edge slash strokes. Begin with the lighter green and tilt your brush back onto its heel to create thin strokes. Ideally, the strokes should be thinner than depicted here. If the paper causes drag on your brush, adjust the pressure accordingly. Remember, practice makes perfect!
Continue this process around the spars of the tree. For fronds facing downward, paint leaves on one side only. As shown in the image, the frond behind the brush is painted on just one side.
Figure: Painting palm tree fronds, one stroke, Pamela Groppe Art
The fan palm, or a similar variety, follows a different technique. Unfortunately, there is no separate image for painting the trunk. However, the included video at the end of this post will provide a complete demonstration. To create the trunk, use a short wiggle stroke, stacking them from top to bottom. Gradually increase the size, with the widest point at the base. The leaves of the fan-shaped palm are painted using a chisel edge slider stroke at the ends of various length stems.
While it may be necessary to create a completely new tutorial for this specific palm tree, the instructions here will allow you to add a lovely element to your tropical beach painting.
Remember, perfection is not the goal. We aim to capture the impression of the subject rather than its exact reality. So let loose, have fun, and paint your palm trees one stroke at a time!
Video Demonstration
To better understand the techniques described above, watch the video below. Apologies for the less-than-ideal lighting; we haven’t had sunshine in over a week. You’ll be amazed at the difference natural light can make in your artwork.
Supplies:
- Plaid FolkArt Craft acrylics
- Thicket
- Cut Grass (Fresh Foliage is recommended)
- Parchment
- Burnt Umber
- Coffee Latte
- Canson Mix Media Pad
Please note that these paint colors should be readily available at your local craft supply stores like Michaels, JoAnn’s, or Hobby Lobby. Keep an eye on their flyers for great sales and discounts!
More Painting Ideas You’ll Enjoy!
- Paint a Simple Beach Scene
- Paint a Sunset Seascape
- Easy Paint a Fir Tree
Thank you for reading, and don’t forget to share your artwork and experiences with us! Happy painting!
