Rangitoto Pohutukawa Watercolour Tutorial for Beginners

I thought I’d try out painting one of the stunning Auckland views we have. It’s summer and the pohutukawa trees are in full bloom so it made a lovely foreground to Rangitoto Island.

Rangitoto Pohutukawa

I did this on A5, so it was challenging to get the detail to the flowers. Next time I’ll try use a smaller brush to capture their feathery feel.

Colours used:

• Ultramarine
• Cerulean
• Sap Green
• Viridian
• Burnt Umber
• Crimson Red
• White
• Black

Rangitoto Pohutukawa in Watercolour Tutorial

1. Sketch out the horizon, island and tree. 
2. Wet the paper
3. Use a lighter blue (eg Cerulean) and a wide brush to create a gradient down to white from the top. A few layers might be needed.
4. Use a clean brush to lift some paint to create clouds.
5. Use a darker blue (eg Ultramarine) at the bottom half for the ocean. Don't worry about the ocean texture, just lay down the colour in a few layers.
6. When the ocean is dry go back over it with some more colour to create the darker coloured texture.
7. Colour in the main island in light green (eg sap green). Wait for it to dry.
8. Once the island is dry, take a sponge and some olive green (I mixed Viridian and Burnt Umber) and dab it over the lighter green to create the island's darker texture.
9. Colour in the other landmass in a grey.
10. Using mostly dry paint, paint in the tree's trunk and branches with a dark brown (I darkened mine with a little black). Wait for it to dry.
11. Once the tree is dry, use a small paintbrush with some dry white to create the trunk's texture. 
12. When the white is dry, you may want to use more brown to texture some of the white as well.
13. With the light green, sponge in the leaves of the tree. Wait to dry.
14. Once dry, use the olive green over the lighter green to create more texture. 
15. Use a red to paint the flowers, with a small brush (eg 000)