Flowers and leaves have been liked by many artists, and they form a major part of nature drawing. Inspiration for these paintings can be easily got from pictures and photographs of flowers and landscape scenes, and from nature itself. Though a flower painting is mostly admired by all and has universal appeal, leaves also form an important part of any painting. This article will guide you how to achieve the best results for painting leaves.
The first part will include drawing or tracing of a leaf. A new artist will always use a real life leaf as reference, while an experienced artist observes nature closely and has learnt all the shades of green by heart. Visualisation of the green helps to make the correct shade. Drawing the leaf and then colouring it is the most commonly used method for painting leaves, though some artists also do direct painting and proceed by using colours directly in the painting of leaves. Outlines are never seen in nature and the biggest mistake while painting leaves is that many artists colour the outline of leaves using black. One can use a darker shade of green for defining the outline and other parts of the leaf.
Let us now discuss the colour of leaves. When we think of leaves we usually think of the colour green. Many beginners try to paint using dark or light green for leaves. The result is never realistic; hence it is better to use a real leaf for reference while painting leaves. There are many shades of green in different mediums. Pencil colours, water colours, chalk and pastels and oil paints have slight difference in shades. Right from viridian green to lime green colour, one has all shades and hues available. Sap green, chrome green, lime green and viridian green are the most commonly used for making green of leaves. For the correct combination and realistic leaf colour one has to mix different colours and shades of green. Usually for darker green one can add little black and for lighter shade one can touch up with white. Care has to be taken to add minute quantities of white or black as very often slight increase in these colours will result in a muddy colour.
Even after mixing right proportions many times artists do not get the bright look in their paintings of leaves. To get this is the most difficult part and this will show the artist's hard work and learning. Mostly a little part of chrome yellow and slight lemon yellow can be used to the green already made to get the fresh and bright green colour in leaves. Light and shadow are the other aspects which have to be considered while painting leaves. One has to observe the direction of light and paint that section brighter than the other part for getting a realistic painting of leaf.
There is no general procedure for filling colour in leaves. One can start painting from the centre and then paint the outer corners, or, paint the edges of leaves first and then go on filling colour in the centre of the leaf. The original edge of the leaf has to be observed before proceeding to paint if one is painting still life and wants the exact replica of the original leaf in the painting. The joining of leaves to the flower stem is another part which needs care during painting leaves. This can be done by observing the connecting part of the leaf to the flower and getting the exact shade and using a darker colour for the slight lump near the connection. The ridges observed in leaves can be done by using the opposite side of the brush when the colour is wet. One can also use a darker shade to make the lines or veins in the leaf.
Leaves form a major part of nature and one has to learn to paint leaves. Though looking simple painting leaves is difficult. This also forms a major part of nature drawing and one has to focus on this aspect while learning nature drawing. How often when we see a still life painting of flowers and leaves and are moved, and when we notice the most attractive part are the leaves, that have been painted realistically and look fresh! Here we appreciate the skill of painting leaves, just like the very famous painting of "The Last Leaf."
Rizwana A. Mundewadi is a freelance Healing Artist and writer. Using her experience in the last decade she has been writing articles related to art, art investment, feng shui, symbolism, prosperity and good luck and has also added to this list her practical experiences with banking, loans and investments. Simple knowledge on art can be found at http://razarts.blogspot.com/
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