Painting Trees in Acrylic DVD

Create fascinating forestscapes in acrylic with professional painter and author Peter John Reid. Learn to paint better trees by recognizing and capturing the differences in the trunks, branches and canopies of a variety of species. Mix lush greens with confidence. Apply wet-in-wet techniques to paint striking skies. Use glazing methods to capture the magic of a sunset or a misty morning. Paint groups of trees with attention-grabbing depth and convincing perspective. Recreate the reflection of trees and sky on water. Easily achieve vibrant backgrounds and captivating canopies with watercolor techniques in acrylic. Create a multitude of trees, grasses and leaves without painting them individually. Plus, use negative painting to build form quickly and add details such as the sky peeking through foliage. Paint forestscapes that capture the wonder of a walk in the woods.

NOTE: Any PDF materials associated with this class are not provided with the DVD-only purchase. You must have streaming access to download those materials. To purchase the combination DVD + Streaming form of this class, click here.

Elements of the Tree (26:05)
Meet your instructor, artist and author Peter John Reid. Peter begins the lesson by showing a whole new way to look at trees. You’ll see detailed examples of how trunks, branches and canopies vary between species. In addition, Peter shares his tips and tricks for capturing the unique character of each tree.

Mixing Greens (24:03)
Learn the essential skill of mixing shades of green. Peter explains three important characteristics of color: value, saturation and hue. Next, you’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to mix varying shades of green on your palette. For added practice, Peter shows you how to make a color mixing chart. Peter also explains how different shades can create certain effects in your paintings.

Wet-in-Wet Blends for Backgrounds (23:27)
Discover how to set the stage for your trees with Peter’s versatile technique for painting skies and other background elements. Peter shows you his preferred setup and method for working with quick-drying acrylics. Learn how to blend wet colors into each other to create beautiful, smooth gradations. You’ll also see Peter’s technique for glazing and creating a partial wet-in-wet blend, perfect for painting beautiful sunsets or depicting mist on the water.

Forms in Groups (26:25)
It’s easy to get lost in all the details. In this lesson, Peter shows you how to simplify the process. You’ll get in-depth instruction on how to paint groups of trees and still achieve depth and perspective. Peter also shares his tips and suggestions for taking better reference photos. In addition, you’ll learn effective techniques for painting the basic shapes of trees before adding in splashes of detail.

The Watercolor Technique (19:13)
Practice a completely different style of acrylic painting. Peter demonstrates his watercolor technique using spray bottles to achieve an airbrushed effect. Discover the perfect technique for quickly covering large areas with vibrant color and texture and for creating canopies with ease. Learn how to seal and mount your finished painting on a wood panel.

Painting Tree Noise (18:14)
Learn how to paint trees quickly. Peter shows you his process for creating texture and “tree noise”–the feeling of massed trees, grasses and leaves–rather than painting trunks or stalks individually. Add layers of thinned color, then use a color shaper to scribble away the paint, using the underlying canvas to create the illusion of tree trunks. Along the way, pick up Peter’s technique for changing the value of your colors to achieve atmospheric perspective.

Negative Painting (29:56)
Advance your understanding of negative painting as Peter shows you an impactful method for creating form quickly in a painting of a misty, tree-lined lake. You’ll also learn how to use negative painting for snowfields by covering areas of the foreground, mid-ground and background. Finish by adding luminescence to earlier works with patches of sky shining through leaves.

Peter John Reid

Peter John Reid is the author of How to Paint with Acrylics. He’s a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, now OCAD University, and his paintings can be found in galleries throughout Ontario. Reid also started the painting group Studio Twenty, which has raised thousands of dollars for local charities through donated paintings. He lives on an idyllic wooded property with his partner, visual artist and writer Bonnie Gardiner. The art on their walls is forever changing.

How will I receive my DVD class?
Your class DVD will be shipped in the mail using the address you provide at checkout. You will not have streaming access to this class in your Craftsy Account unless you purchase(d) it separately. If you’d like to own this class in BOTH on-demand streaming form and DVD, we recommend you purchase that combination item on Craftsy.com.

Will the companion materials come with my DVD class?
Any downloadable class PDF materials are not included on the DVD, so you will not have access to those materials. While the video instruction on your DVD is complete, you must have streaming access to download the PDF materials associated with the class. You can purchase streaming access or a combination DVD + Streaming access on Craftsy.com.

Do I have to purchase a Craftsy Membership to get my class?
No, you do not. Every DVD-only class purchased on Craftsy.com includes the physical DVD in the mail. The physical disc(s) are yours to keep forever, with or without a Craftsy membership.

Are DVDs included in a Craftsy Membership?
No, they are not. DVDs can only be purchased on an individual basis and are not included in Craftsy memberships. For non-members, DVDs are a flexible way to purchase only the classes you love best. For members, DVDs are a great choice to build an at-home library you can keep forever and enjoy any time, with or without Internet access.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do ship most physical products, including DVDs, to several International destinations. In addition to the USA and Canada, we ship to Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and most Western European countries. If you live outside these countries, you can still purchase digital items including memberships, individual streaming classes, and pattern downloads.

Do your DVDs work on international players?
Yes, our DVDs should be compatible with any DVD player in use today. All our videos have been created with all current Region Codes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8). If you have trouble viewing a DVD purchased from Craftsy.com, please contact Customer Service.

What is your return policy?
We want to be sure you’re satisfied. If you have trouble playing your DVD, if the content is not correctly presented on the DVD, or you are dissatisfied with the content of your class, we will work with you. Contact Craftsy Customer Service via email or phone. Upon your request, and upon your return of the DVD to us, we will refund your purchase price or send you another DVD to replace a damaged or incorrect DVD, whichever is your preference.