Wondering Eye
Trees are an extraordinary tool for incorporating leading lines into your artwork due to their inherent linear qualities. All elements of a tree, from rhythm and texture, to leaves, or branches can be utilized to create lines that guide the viewer's eye and establish a smooth visual flow throughout the composition.
Leading Lines
In painting, the marks we make can often serve as an instinctive guide through the artwork. The element of trees offers a particular advantage in directing the viewer's gaze throughout a composition. For this piece, I focused on the tree's direction of growth. While not every trunk leads directly to the primary focal point, there is an order to the chaos. The network of branches, leaves, and even cast shadows work together to create a visual pathway. By simplifying the values and shapes of this illustration, these paths become more distinct. The resulting trails draw attention inward and ultimately guide the viewer back to the central subject.