5 Easy Gouache Tree Tutorials for Beginners

If you’ve ever struggled to make trees look natural and full of life, this beginner-friendly gouache tutorial is the perfect place to start.

In this blog, we’ll be studying five simple tree styles — from round and leafy to tall and slender — all built with approachable brush techniques that anyone can follow.

Materials Used

• Maddy Bellwoar x Craftamo Brush Set - click here to grab your Maddy Bellwoar Set

• Gouache paints in shades of green, yellow, blue, and brown

• 300gsm watercolor paper

• Palette and clean water for mixing
  
  

💡 Tip: Mix two to three shades of green to create natural depth and variation.

Tree 1 - Round Tree (Classic and Balanced)

The first tree starts with a simple, rounded silhouette. A dark base of green or brown establishes depth, followed by soft layers of lighter greens and yellow-greens to mimic sunlight. The secret? A gentle tapping motion with the brush to create a natural leaf texture.

Tree 2 – Pine Tree (Textured and Layered)

Next comes the pine tree, tall, triangular, and full of character. Begin with a central trunk, then build the shape using short, angled strokes that layer from top to bottom. Switch between dark and light greens to form a realistic contrast of light and shadow.

💡 Tip: Keep your brush angled to follow the natural direction of pine branches.

Tree 3 – Weeping Willow (Soft and Flowing)

The willow is all about grace and movement. Start with long, curved branches, then use loose, downward brushstrokes to create the flowing canopy. Layer lighter greens toward the outer edges for a soft, draped effect that captures the willow’s distinctive charm.

💡 Tip: Let gravity guide your strokes — pull, don’t tap.

Tree 4 – Tall Slender Tree (Elegant and Minimal)

For this elegant shape, use a slim vertical oval as your guide. Apply quick upward strokes, keeping the middle darker and the edges lighter. This contrast creates a beautiful sense of roundness and structure, perfect for trees like poplars or cypresses.

Tree 5 – Spreading Oak (Strong and Textured)

The final tree, the oak — celebrates texture and strength. Start with a sturdy brown trunk, then build uneven clusters of foliage with alternating shades of dark and light green. The secret to realism is irregularity,vary your brush pressure to form natural leaf groupings.

💡 Tip: Don’t aim for symmetry; nature thrives in variation.

Final Touches

Once all five trees are complete, take a step back and observe their balance. Add grassy textures or faint shadows to ground them and complete the forest scene. The result is a peaceful collection of trees, each unique, yet harmoniously connected through tone and texture.

Final Thoughts

This exercise reminds artists that gouache can be both forgiving and expressive.
By exploring these five tree types, painters gain confidence in layering, color mixing, and brush control, all while enjoying a calm, meditative creative process.

For those who prefer to see the process in action, the full video tutorial is available on Craftamo’s YouTube channel, where each step is demonstrated clearly for easy follow-along painting.