What is the correct sequence for painting a dark tree against a luminous watercolour sky?

Correct answer: Paint and dry the light sky first, then add the dark tree

The governing watercolour principle is to preserve the lightest areas and work from lighter passages toward darker ones. First paint the luminous sky with a diluted wash and allow it to dry completely. Then place the darker tree silhouette on top; the dry background prevents the dark pigment from bleeding into the sky and keeps the boundary readable. Painting the tree first or blending both areas wet would weaken the silhouette, while covering the paper in black ignores the intended contrast. Therefore, option A is correct.