Don’t Paint Trees with Watercolor (Do This Instead)
Stop trying to paint trees the “right way” and start using watercolor as a tool for exploration and creative freedom.
I don’t paint trees with watercolor.
At least… not the way most people think.
When most artists approach something like trees, the goal is usually to “get it right.” Good shapes. Clean edges. Something that looks finished.
That’s not what this is.
In this approach, I’m using trees as an excuse to explore. Watercolor becomes a tool—not the goal. I’ll mix in crayon, collage, loose drawing, whatever feels right in the moment.
Because this is where growth actually happens.
Not when you’re trying to control everything…
but when you let go and start responding.
What This Study Teaches
- How to break out of the “finished painting” mindset
- Using mixed media to loosen up your approach
- Letting materials guide the process
- Building confidence through exploration
Why This Works
Most artists get stuck trying to make good art.
That pressure leads to tight, overworked results.
When you shift the goal from “painting trees” to “exploring ideas,” everything changes. You stop forcing outcomes and start discovering them.
That’s where style comes from.
That’s where freedom starts.
This Is Just The Beginning
Join my Deconstruction Lab on Patreon to go deeper, or explore my full drawing courses for complete step-by-step training.
Or if you’d rather binge a full courses, I’ve got those ready too.
