Download Lightroom presets and LUTs, absolutely free. Use the presets to add creativity and style to your photos.
![fantastic_tree_014[6] fantastic_tree_014[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0146.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_015[6] fantastic_tree_015[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0156.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_016[6] fantastic_tree_016[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0166.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Step 13 – Adding grass around the tree
Create another layer labelled “grass_back” under the “tree_colour” layer. Then use the Brush Tool to add some grass behind the tree. Use some greens and yellows. They do not need to be the same colour.![fantastic_tree_017[6] fantastic_tree_017[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0176.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_018[6] fantastic_tree_018[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0186.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Step 14 – Painting Flowers
Create another layer labelled “flowers” and paint a flower among the grass.![fantastic_tree_019[6] fantastic_tree_019[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0196.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_020[6] fantastic_tree_020[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0206.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_021[6] fantastic_tree_021[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0216.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_022[6] fantastic_tree_022[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0226.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_023[6] fantastic_tree_023[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0236.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_024[6] fantastic_tree_024[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0246.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_025[6] fantastic_tree_025[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0256.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Step 15 – Painting clouds
Create a new layer labelled “clouds” above the “sky_colour” layer. Paint some clouds.![fantastic_tree_026[6] fantastic_tree_026[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0266.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_027[6] fantastic_tree_027[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0276.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Step 16 – Adding leaves
Select the “tree_colour” layer and draw some leaves on the branches.![fantastic_tree_029[6] fantastic_tree_029[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0296.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_030[6] fantastic_tree_030[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0306.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Step 17 – Painting the animal character
If you deleted the “squirrel_sketch” layer and saved it in another file, now is the time to bring it back. Add it to your Layer palette.

Step 18 – Adding foreground
To make the squirrel appear to be in the midst of the grass, I changed the canvas size again. I increased the height of the canvas by adding extra space to the bottom of the painting. Create a new layer and label it “black.” Give it a dark brown colour.

Step 19 – Detailing the squirrel
Give the squirrel some more details and paint it white. Use the Smudge Tool to smooth the squirrel out. Use the Burn Tool to add some shadows.


Step 20 – Backing up a copy
Save a copy of your painting as a psd file. Merge the files and save as another copy.![fantastic_tree_031[6] fantastic_tree_031[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0316.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Step 21 – Finishing touches
Right click the layer and choose Duplicate Layer.![fantastic_tree_032[6] fantastic_tree_032[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0326.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_033[6] fantastic_tree_033[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0336.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_034[6] fantastic_tree_034[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0346.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_035[6] fantastic_tree_035[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0356.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_036[6] fantastic_tree_036[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0366.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
![fantastic_tree_038[6] fantastic_tree_038[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0386.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
- Opacity: 57%
- Fill: 100%
![fantastic_tree_039[6] fantastic_tree_039[6]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/fantastic_tree_0396.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
Final Results
![final-results[3] final-results[3]](https://cdn.photoshoptutorials.ws/images/stories/f05ef7888ab8_14BD5/finalresults3_3.png?strip=all&lossy=1&quality=64&w=1920&ssl=1)
3 comments on “How to Paint a Surreal Scene in Photoshop”
Hello There!
I agree with Jakub. The draw is awesome. But you dont tell anything how you do that, example the tree. The tree awesome realistic but you dont tell what brush or which technique you use for it. Anyway, i read all of it and do my first digital draw and I think it is quite good enought, so THANK YOU!! :)
quite a poor tutorial. don't get me wrong, your art is awesome, but you don't explain anything. all you say is 'set your brush to that' and then you say "paint clouds", "paint highlights". no tips whatsoever how to achieve an effect similar to yours. and then your tree changes dramatically from one step to another without saying how you did that. your highlights suddenly changed to white.
in one abbreviated word - wtf...
MY FAVORITE STYLE I LOVED IT, I ADORE THIS COLORING STYLE BUT I THINK U USED A GLOWING EFFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE BACKGROUND AND U FORGOT TO SAY SO, U R A REAL ARTIST ,THANX ALOT :)