This is a great question! I often don't think about it so this is good for my brain to analyze. It is sort of a 'Bob Ross' approach for the initial line of the tree and often the leaves, and then from there I let the brush do the walking. I enjoy shading trees/branches and then use a thicker paint to softly stroke on the highlights so that it 'catches' on the last layer. I try to keep in mind that while most trees are somewhat straight, there are many that are not so I try to feel out how they would fill/or not fill the space. And I will admit, I have little patience to paint out every single leaf. But because every tree is different, and every scene in my head is also, I generally try to balance where I put the bulk of the leaves, often using a brush that fits that tree to dab it on, again, a sort of Bob Ross style to explain it. With some of my other trees I like the smooth whiteness that comes out, those are usually my favourite. The kind that reflects the moonlight <3 Thank you for asking!