Beginners "Autumn Color' Painting Lesson
Colors: Ultramarine Blue, Cad Yellow Med., Cad Yellow Lt., Cad Red Lt (or Vermillion), White, Burnt Umber
Other tools: Palette Knife, chalk, white stiff bristle brush, flat brushes, filbert brush.
Sketching & Prep
Sketch horizon line in 4 1/2″ down from Top.
Sketch river at horizon, 5″ in from L, 2 1/2″ in from R, then follow sketch design in perspective (foreshortening). Use chalk to place.
Then come back with mix of UMB+ White+ BU to brush-sketch the rest of the elements (background trees, middle ground trees on right, 2 trees of left) onto canvas.
Its always easier to sketch first with chalk and then go back and sketch with a thinned down darker color with your brush. Keep it thin or it will be difficult to cover.
Background
SKY: White + tch UMB + Tch BU in center of sky area. A little more UMB toward outside edges.
Foreground center of stream: A touch of the light sky colors
Distant Tree Line: CadYellow Med.+ tch UMB + White
Scumble this area in with various mixes of above (lighter at top, more UMB toward bottom). Then add touches of tree line mix above + tch CadRed Lt (Vermillion) + tch BU. Use pad of finger to blend the tops of the tree line into the sky for aerial perspective.
Add greenish reflections in water at back (by tree line)
Middle Ground
Trees on Left: Base in with BU
Trees On Right: Scumble base in with green & yellow mixes (above). Add trunks & a few branches with BU.
Water Reflections: Add near Trees on right with tree colors + tch of BU (greenish brown)
Banks: In a “sketchy” manner, Outline banks of stream with BU and touches of UMB+BU
Foreground
Banks: Scumble in a base of various mixes UMB CYMed CYLt BU White
Large Tree on Left: using edge of palette knife, add bits of light (base + White) and darker (base + a bit more UMB), create a little texture.
Background tree grove on Left: Place 5-6 tree trunks with BU + White. Add foliage with dull orange (Cad Yellow M. + Cad RedLt+ BU)
Trees on Right: start scumbling leaves by applying loosely with flat side of brush : CadYellow Med + UMB+White, CadYellowLt. + tch White, Cad Yellow Med + Cad Red Lt + tch white
End up with dabbing motion for leaves on front side (those in the most light).
Large Tree on Left: Use a palette knife & same leaf mixes:
CYM+UMB+White, CYLt.+UMB+White, CYM + CRdLt+White. We want to “Tap & Dab” the leaves onto the branches and across the trunk. These should be more of a “flat, horiontal” dab. Don’t attach ALONG the branch. Keep loose and allow the background to show thru.
Finish Up
Add some accents to ground with a palette knife.
Add a few glints in water (white)
Add a tiny bit ofWhite+ CadYellow Lt. to center of sky and center of water.
Have Fun & Enjoy!!
