Spring Trees - watercolor palette knife

12x9 watercolor of a stand of trees just leafing out for Spring.  With no predrawing with pencil, this was entirely done with a small metal palette knife onto semi-moist Canson paper this afternoon.  To those artists who have contacted me curious about using a palette knife, just think of the tool as a spoon.  You can slide it on its edge for straight lines or literally scoop a load of watery paint up and deposit onto your paper as seen in the blue areas.  Let partially dry then charge another analogous color in there and watch the mixing and blending happen.  Keep tilted at 30-40 degree angle to allow paint to run and occasionally spritz with a fine sprayer.  When dry add shadows and load up a brush for splatter marks.  Flying birds were put in on dry paper with palette knife, too.  Try it! No reference used as you don't need one.
Image COPYRIGHT 2015 Kay Smith.