This tutorial was done with paintshop pro 6, but can be done with other versions.
Tools:
Paintbrush, settings: hardness 90, op 100, step 25, density 50, No paper
Smudge brush, settings: hardness 0,op and density 100,step 3,coarse canvas paper
Open a new image, 400/400, 72 resolution, white background
click on paintbrush, and open tool options window, click on the little paintbrush and select pencil setting.
foreground color: R-23,G-16,B-15 (black)
background color we won't be using
This tree is old , it leans to one side. Sketch a basic tree as shown below, remember each tree is different. don't worry if your's isn't exact.
We will add limbs. A tree limb grows in all directions. a HINT: use eraser brush to erase the basic tree. This will make the limbs look more real.
We will shade the tree..Paintbrush size 1, start from the bottom of the tree on one side only..I chose the left side for the most shading..shade limbs too, darker where they attach to the tree.
As you see your tree is coming to life..You can also shade in layers if you prefer. I sketch in one layer as a "paper". Now take the smudge brush, coarse canvas paper setting, about size 9 or whatever you feel comfortable with, start at the bottom on the left side. grabbing the side of the tree,go "around" the tree with little strokes and move up the tree..the right side should be white still..go all the way up on the left side and to the bottom of the right limb. we will get the right bottom later after we add a knothole and broken limb. feel free to go back and add more darker shading with the paintbrush and them smudge it out lightly.
now your tree has a life. I went over the fine limbs with the smudge brush to make them a little fatter.
We will add a knothole. paintbrush size 2, make a circle under the big limb. Go over the right side of the circle again. smudge brush, coarse canvas paper, smudge out the hole lightly. Go back to the paintbrush (no paper) and go over right side again. smudge out lightly with coarse canvas paper.
We will add the broken limb. paintbrush (no paper) size 2, draw a short limb. add a circle at the end, like someone "sawed" off the limb., paintbrush size 1, add some shading on both sides and going down the right side. smudge brush coarse canvas paper setting, smudge going round the broken limb. you can go back and add shading under limb and smudge it out. Now we will add a small branch on that broken limb. paintbrush, (no paper), size 2,draw above and to the right..add a couple of little branches.. smudge brush coarse canvas paper setting and lightly smudge the branch..
now we have our tree..you can add leaves or even a bird nest is you would like..I like the look of an old tree thats dying in nature.
We will now add a fence on the left side of the tree. Paintbrush, (no paper), size 2, draw three fence posts, going up and away from the tree. making each smaller as they go farther away.. add some rails. Smudge brush, no paper, go up and down the posts and make a circle motion on top of posts. pick up paintbrush again, size 1..add some shadding to the posts and top of the posts. smudge lightly with coarse canvas paper setting.
As you see on mine I have broken rails..Now we will add the ground. paintbrush ,( no paper), size 2, paint the ground, going with the lay of the land. Smudge brush, no paper. make streaks in the ground following the curve of the land. dark and light.. now change the smudge brush to coarse canvas paper setting, adjust size depending on how much "grass" and how long.. I did mine from size 19 to size 9. take one section of the ground, find a streak and "fluff" it up using upward strokes and circle strokes..keep going around till you feel its enough. grab the paintbrush again, no paper, size 2. make some long grass around fence posts and couple bushes by tree. smudge brush, coarse canvas paper, fluff up the tall grass and bushes. For little specks of real tall grass, take the paintbrush,( no paper), size 1, flick the brush upward to add little tall specks of grass.
Now you have made a sketch of an old tree. Congratulations! If you have any questions or confused at any point of this tutorial, call me