How to Paint a Fall Watercolor Scene

by Allie English— Intern

Supplies:

• Tubed Watercolor Paint

  • Ultramarine Blue

  • Orange Yellow

  • Orange Red

  • Vermilion Red

  • Yellow Ochre

  • Burnt Umber

  • Green Deep

  • Pthalo Green

  • Burnt Sienna

  • White

• Paintbrushes

• Watercolor Paper

• Paper Towels

• Pan of Water

Step One:

Briefly soak the watercolor paper in a pan of water to wet it. Making this wet on wet combination helps the colors blend better.

Step Two:

Step 2: Prepare three sets of Ultramarine Blue—one very watered down, another slightly watered down, the other left as a thick pigment. Apply the watery coat of Ultramarine Blue to the upper half of the sheet with the wide brush. With the slightly watery mix, make horizontal strokes to darken the sky. Delicately dip your brush in the thick pigment to add detail to the clouds. Use a paper towel to blot out the insides of the clouds.

Step Three:

Make two sets for Phthalo Green—one watery, the other thick. Use thick Phthalo Green and Ultramarine Blue to make the ridges of the rolling hills. Wet your brush and use the watery set to make the mountains fade downward.

Step Four:

Prepare two sets of Green Deep—one watery, the other thick. Use the Green Deep to create the foreground. First, use the thick pigment for the crest of the foreground, and fill in the rest of the sheet with the watery pigment for a fade effect. Leave an empty space for the upcoming tree trunk and three pumpkins.

Step Five:

Prepare a wet and thick-set of Yellow Ochre, Orange Yellow, and Burnt Sienna. Use the wet versions to give the pumpkins pigment. Leave the left side darker for the shadow effect. Detail the edges with thick sets of the three pigments mentioned in this step.

Step Six:

Use both the thick and watery versions together of Yellow Ochre, Orange Yellow, and Burnt Umber to accent the pumpkins. Create ridges, and leave a divet at the top for the stems. Always pay attention to shadows. Make the stems with thick Burnt Umber.

Step Seven:

Along with the thick Burnt Umber, make a watery set, as well. Create a tree trunk with this pigment. Use the thick pigment for the left side of the trunk to create shadows. Fade the trunk with the watery pigment.

Step Eight:

Prepare a thick pigment of Vermilion Red. Make the tree’s leaves. Use thick Orange Yellow to make tiny strokes along the tree’s crown. Fill in some of the open spaces with thick Orange Red and Vermilion Red. Next, go back with Yellow Orange and fill in the open areas. Give longer strokes, and don’t be afraid to mix the colors together. Slightly wet a wide brush, and lightly go over the tree crown in the direction of the leaves to blend.

Step Nine:

Use watery Green Deep and Yellow Ochre to make the tree and pumpkins look like they are sitting on the ground; it makes shadows in the grass. Use watery Yellow Ochre to lightly go across the grass to give it autumn accents. Add some strokes of Orange Yellow, Orange Red, and Vermilion Red for leaves on the ground. Once dry, highlight the pumpkins with a thick pigment of White. Give other accents as needed. Add your signature, and you’ve created a fall scene!