Step #2
Painting veins and stems
Developing the leaf image Once your first layer is dry and you will start painting various areas of your first leaf. This will add texture and detail. Keep paper towels nearby because they make it easy to blot out excessive coffee. You will be adding more leaves around and under this first leaf.
Things to pay attention to:
• Adding veins makes your leaf come alive. Often the veins are white or lighter than the rest of the leaf. It can be tempting to paint veins dark right away. Try to resist this urge. Remember you can always make them darker by adding a shadow along one side of the vein. Darker hairpin veins can also be added.
• Add the stem. Keep in mind that most stems are not a straight line but have a natural curve. (See image below) If you wait to add the stem after your basic leaf has started to take form it is easier to see the natural curve of the leaf. That way the stem can be painted in the correct proportion and flow in the right direction.
• Define the leaf edges. The leaf edges hold the character of the leaf and should not be painted with thick stokes around the edge. Natural light and shadows cause the edges to reflect different values and weight.
Look closely at the images below.
