Here's what you'll be covering over the course of the class. It's set up over the course of 30 days, but you can take as much time as you need.

Module 1: Basic Tree Drawing Tips and Monochromatic Studies

• Leonardo Da Vinci's rule for drawing trees

• simplifying trees using gestural lines

• creating thumbnail tonal studies from the old masters

• creating tonal studies from life

Module 2: Studying Tree Drawing with the Old Masters

• an in-depth look into the history of tree drawing in Western art

• understanding the lessons the old masters have to teach us

• creating a tree drawing master copy using ballpoint pen

• creating a master copy using a negative space technique on toned paper

Module 3: Drawing Trees from Photo Reference

• an overview of contemporary tree artists

• learning to use photo references without becoming overly reliant on them

• creating a tree drawing from photo reference using a ballpoint pen crosshatching technique

• creating a tree drawing from photo reference on toned paper using a negative space technique, pen/pencil and white gouache

Module 4: Plein Air Tree Drawing

• an introduction to drawing trees from life

• using the ballpoint pen technique we learned earlier in the class for plein air drawing

• sealing the pen drawing and using gouache or watercolor to transform it into a painting