![Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass](https://cloud.starkinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-550x403.jpg)
This week I made more progress on the foreground of my “Lucie Stern Through the Looking Glass” painting by adding in the leaves of a large tree on the left. I really focused on identifying the variations in color and depth in the leaves.
Usually when people start painting the leaves of tress, they start with just green which provides a very flat, artificial looking tree. Instead, I’ve learned that you need to vary the shades of green with the base color and yellow ochre. I also add a little bit of bright red to my some of my color variations to add additional visual interest. There is always a balance of creating variation without getting so wild, the leaves steal all the attention from the rest of the painting.
You’ll also find that it takes a couple of layers to get the depth you want and it is important to wait between layers so the paint has some time to dry.
I am a little nervous about the next step in this painting where I will add additional trees and bushes in front of the Lucie Stern Theatre. I want to get this right as I really don’t want to have to paint the Lucie Stern building over again.
![Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-2](https://cloud.starkinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-2-550x366.jpg)
This week, Lee Hartman, the teacher, is still not back in class. However, word from some other students is that she will be back next week.
I took the liberty while she is gone to select my next painting which will be on a 22″x28″ canvas and feature a couple of people amongst other items in the painting. It will be considerably more challenging. I hope Lee is not going to kill me for choosing such a complex painting. However, I figure you’ll never know what you are capable of if you don’t push it.
![Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-1](https://cloud.starkinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-1-550x366.jpg)
![Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-3](https://cloud.starkinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Lucie-Stern-Through-The-Looking-Glass-3-550x549.jpg)