#1 Cherry Blossom Tree

I'm finally getting a handle on this digital art thing. Here's a cherry blossom tree I sketched up last evening.

I've been practicing my value studies by doing black & white paintings. Once I'm satisfied with the contrast and I feel every shade is meaningful and each shape is discernable, I'll move into color. I struggled with figuring out how to add color into desaturated art for a while - then I stumbled upon the wonderful world of gradient maps :) Maybe simple trees will become a series?

Check out the attachment for the process!