Painting in California’s dry atmosphere was a lot different from working in the super-humid Midwest. I found myself frustrated by how quickly washes dried. There was no shade to be found, and the angle of the sun made it difficult to use my body to cut the glare. This resulted in me having to use a number of fast painting tricks.
1" (2.5cm) flat brush, bristle brush, assorted watercolor pigments, cold-pressed watercolor paper
STEP ONE: Apply Washes
I made a huge wash of Raw Sienna and Quinacridone Gold and laid it on with my biggest brush, working as fast as I could. A second, darker wash made by adding more Ultramarine and Burnt Sienna pushed the far hill back into shadow. I splashed in some dark green while that was still wet to suggest more brush on the hillside.
STEP TWO: Create Trunks and Branches
I used a rough bristle brush to lay in the bushes quickly. While they were still damp, I scraped trunks and branches into the dark green wash. I used my favorite Phthalo Blue and Burnt Sienna for rich dark greens.
STEP THREE: Add Texture
Spatter and more scratching in the shadow areas give the illusion of texture on the steep hillside.
STEP FOUR: Add Final Details
Apply any additional touches and let the painting dry.