12 turnovers is a lot , but he was so good otherwise , I can ' t do it . <| sep |> My first thought is that tree layers in real life are rarely as individual as a blot . At least three or four blots are always connected when I see trees outside my window . I ' m looking specifically at the tallest tree on the right . I count at least six individual blots that don ' t connect to another which is creating the effect you ' re describing . Try layering three to four blots and leaving dark space between those . See if that helps . Something else I noticed was your foliage appears to be hovering . The low splatter can be drug out to create shadows and provide a plane for the bush or tree to set on . You paint quite well DMP . Don ' t get discouraged