Today’s watercolor experiment:

My wife and I frequently stop for coffee while we are out and about. Today I noticed a tree outside the coffeeshop. I usually notice trees that are brightly colored, especially in the afternoon light.

Coffee Tree
12″x9″ 140# Cold Pressed Watercolor Block

In the spirit of experimentation, I began painting not with a brush, but with a sponge. Since the most  brilliantly colored leaves were orange, I started with lemon yellow, hoping to overlay it with red. I did not choose the correct red to make the orange color I had in mind. After finishing the rest of the piece I brushed in a bit of cadmium orange to compensate.

For the leaves in shadow and some of the background foliage, I used Hooker’s green. I colored the reddish gravel/soil in the foreground with Terra Rosa from M. Graham. This color is becoming one of my favorites.

I was not satisfied with sponge dabbings, so I used a brush to strengthen the colors of the leaves. I also used a brush for the sky, using short strokes.

Here is the reference photograph:

Coffee Tree – Photo Reference