I’m continuing my quest to master mixing oil and watercolors successfully and just might have a new series emerging: winter aspens. Or winter birch. I’m a bit torn since I love the aspen trees of my native Colorado in winter, but also love the birch found in the Pacific Northwest where I’ve spent many months painting in the winter over the last decade (and now live).
Here are two of my most recent winter trees – layers of oil paint (I use oil sticks such as Winsor & Newton Oilbars), followed by layers of watercolor paint (some traditional paints along with my own mix of metallic pigment powders). At just the right time, I scrape the tree shapes out with an old favorite tool: pieces of cut up credit cards.
I’m loving these early results… what do you think?
David Castle Art 
Splendid pictures.
These are gorgeous, and your technique is fascinating to me. Would you say more about it? Thanks. Rosemary Claus-Gray
Beautiful technique and colors from watercolors and oils. Who knew!
Have you tried using water-based oils? I have a set that is great – believe they are Daniel Smith.