Quiet Winter · Plate 9 of 45

Pine cone and needles color reference

A pine cone holds the tree's seeds between its woody scales. The scales open in dry weather to release the seeds and close when it is damp. Pine needles grow in small bundles along the branches.

Colors to reach for

Use warm brown and chestnut for the cone with tan tips on each scale, and deep green for the needles.

• brown
• chestnut
• tan
• deep green
• olive green

How to color the pine cone and needles, step by step

1. Read the gray shading guide first. It already marks where the pine cone and needles is darkest, so the shadows are mapped before you pick up a pencil.
2. Lay a light first layer of brown and chestnut over the largest areas, with soft pressure and small circles, letting the gray show through.
3. Build depth with tan and deep green, going over the gray areas a second and third time until they read as shadow and form.
4. Finish with olive green for the smallest details and highlights, then step back and compare with the color reference above.

Questions about this page

What colors do I need to color the pine cone and needles?

Start with brown, chestnut, tan, deep green and olive green. Use warm brown and chestnut for the cone with tan tips on each scale, and deep green for the needles.

Where is the pine cone and needles in Quiet Winter?

It is plate 9 of 45 in Quiet Winter. Like every Nibfern drawing it is printed on one side of the page, with a light gray shading guide under the lines and a dotted cut line at the spine.

Can I frame the pine cone and needles page?

Yes. Cut along the dotted line and trim to the corner marks for a 7 x 9 inch print that fits a standard 8 x 10 frame.

More from Quiet Winter

• MooseQuiet Winter, plate 11
• Snow crystalsQuiet Winter, plate 12
• Emperor penguin and chickQuiet Winter, plate 13
• LynxQuiet Winter, plate 14

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