What?! It’s That Easy?! Draw A Complex Tree Root With Trunk, Branch, Root Brush Material

The root of a complexly intertwined tree is very difficult, it takes a lots of time and skill to draw.

However, if you use the “trunk, branch, root brush”, you can draw with amazing ease.

This page shows you the making of a complex tree roots using “trunk, branch, root (horizontal line)” brush.

Learn how to correct line width of brush material here

Learn basics of brush materials here

Draw a complex roots tree with “Trunk, Branch, Root” brush materials

To draw a natural scenery, it will be more realistic when you refer to picture.
Find your favorite photo first and draw a draft with reference to it.

There are four types (+a) of branch root brushes, and these can be use for combinations.

Let’s start drawing the tree.
First of all, draw the trunk which becomes the axis with the trunk brush.

In order to effectively use the trunk, branch, root brush,
make layers above(Front) and below(Bottom) the trunk.

Stroke the “large” and “small” brush
to arrange the silhouette along the draft on the “Bottom of Trunk” layer.

Then draw roots using “large”, “small”, and “smallest” brushes on the “Front of Trunk” layer.

Modify the roots that on the trunk unnaturally and the tips of the broken roots.

Use a tone scrape brush (or spray) and cut the tip with a transparent color.
 

For drawing on another layer, you can only scrape the unnecessary part without hurting the trunk.
Although omitted here,
drawing small roots (in red circles) with another layer makes it easier to repair the seams.

Now hide the “Ground” layer (transparent part is displayed).
Use this white background of the trunk and roots.

Draw soil and grass as the foundation under the root white background (layer).
※Ground brush (grass black), Black leaves brush (distant view) used

Draw small roots between the root white background and the foundation.
※Using Branch brush (white)

Add fallen leaves between the small roots and the foundation.
※Fallen leaves brush (simple) (decayed) used.

Gradation is pasted on the front and the roots part,
add solid(beta) shadow under the root.

Because the small roots are too bright, shade with hatching from above.

Make a layer at the top,
draw the roots at the front with “trunk, branch, root brush (horizontal line black)”.

paste a gradation tone on the roots surface by follow basics of perspective,
(darker at the front ,thinner at the back).

Furthermore, I fix the seam of the root that look unnaturally with white color.

 
Make a layer at the top, draw some falling, dancing leaves.
Another layer at the bottom and add fallen leaves behind the tree to complete.

This is the final layer composition.
Separated the layers for each step to make easier to modify this time.
It is up to you how many layers you need (as far as you can figure out).

You can merge the layers after modify.

If you use “Trunk, Branch, Root brush”, the creation time of tree can be overwhelmingly shorten.
And the biggest feature of this brush is possible to design any shape freely.

If you register your tree drawing,
the work efficiency can be improved for next time.

Please give it a try.

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