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ANSWER TO MYSTERY TECHNIQUE #142:

I started by wetting the paper and painting the sky with a graded blue wash. While it was still wet, I lifted out the blue with a crumpled paper towel in places where I wanted to add foliage. Next I painted those spots with yellow. When the paper was dry, I drew the outline of the tree trunk with a pencil before painting the first layer of the ground, lifting the color out of the trunk with a damp sponge.

Next I painted the distant trees in several muted layers, blotting and softening edges to help create a sense of depth. I used multiple layers of vibrant colors for the main tree’s foliage and softened some of the harder edges with a damp sponge or brush. After painting the trunk and branches, I quickly blotted with a paper towel to suggest dappled light. When the trunk and branches were dry, I added detail with watercolor pencils. I used a fan brush to add a cast shadow under the tree.