Unwind with Abstract Forest Illustrations in Watercolor & Ink

Escape the concrete jungle and create your own magical forest with a little bit of watercolors and some doodling!

There is something magical in the woods. Calm, majestic trees force us to slow down and let go of distractions of everyday life. Observing sunlight filtering through the leaves, breathing in the fresh air, and listening to the branches whispering in the wind allows us to immerse in the beauty of nature, destress and clear our minds. In Japanese culture, this meditative practice of connecting with nature is called forest bathing and is thought to be crucial for our wellbeing.

If you’re like me and you live in a big city, experiencing nature in such a way might be quite a challenge. In this class, I invite you to run away into the woods in your imagination, by creating a playful and relaxing mixed media project inspired by the forest.

In this class, we’ll look at the forest in a more abstract way, by focusing on overall shapes, colors, and textures rather than on individual trees. We’ll try to emulate masses of greenery and recreate the feel of a lush forest, by building layers of simple leafy patterns upon a watercolor background.

First I will guide you through creating an abstract watercolor base for your illustrations and then I’ll show you two different techniques for adding leafy doodles to your prepared backgrounds. We’ll experiment with loose patterns to achieve a delicate, hazy summer effect and then we’ll focus on building layers of dense greenery to create an illusion of a dark, mysterious forest.

Whichever technique you choose, both exercises will allow you to relax and unwind, even in the middle of a concrete jungle. So grab your art supplies and let’s escape into the woods!

MORE INSPIRATION

Looking for more pattern ideas? Check out my class: „Patterns Everywhere: Finding Fresh Embellishing Ideas for Your Projects”

You loved these exercises and want more nature-inspired projects? Jump into my class: „Slow Drawing, Slow Living: Get in the Flow with Ocean Doodles”

You don’t have much time on your hands, but you'd like to incorporate art into your daily routine? Watch: „Pocket-Sized Creativity: Make Time for Art Despite a Busy Schedule”

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

Hi, I'm Ewa and I’m an illustrator and embroidery artist based in Warsaw, Poland.

Feel free to check my Profile here on Skillshare!

You can also visit my website here.

WANT TO SHARE YOUR WORK WITH ME?

Post it on Instagram and tag me @illustellar

 

• Introduction
• Class Project
• Supplies
• Painting: Watercolor Background
• Doodling: Hazy Summer Forest
• Doodling: Mysterious Dark Wood
• Final Thoughts