Watercolor Fall leaf tutorial #watercolor, by Art By Lauri Black on YouTube. 1 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Tape a 5 by 7 inch piece of watercolor paper to a flat board. Sketch one simple leaf shape in the center with a light pencil line.
Mix three separate puddles of paint: yellow, orange and red. Add water a little at a time until each color flows but is not watery.
Wet the inside of the leaf with clean water and a damp brush. Keep the paper shiny, not dripping, so the paint spreads evenly.
Drop yellow into the middle of the wet shape, then orange along the edges. Tilt the paper slightly so the colors meet and blend.
While the paper is still damp, add red near the tip and outer edges. Leave thin gaps unpainted where you want pale veins to show.
Let the leaf dry completely. Mix brown with a little water and paint a thin stem, then draw fine vein lines with the tip of your brush.
Dilute a little grey or brown for a soft shadow under one side of the leaf. Keep the shadow light and uneven.
Wait until everything is bone dry, then peel the tape off at a low angle so the paper does not tear.
Tips and common mistakes
Test each color on a scrap of the same paper before you paint the leaf.
Stop blending while the paper is still damp; too much brushing makes the colors muddy.
Keep the paper flat while it dries so the wash does not run off the leaf.
Use less water for sharper edges and more water for soft, faded edges.
Questions
What kind of watercolor paper should I use?
A cold-press paper around 140 lb or 300 gsm holds water well and gives soft edges. Thin paper will buckle and make the wash uneven.
Why do my leaf colors turn muddy?
Muddy color comes from overbrushing or mixing too many pigments while the wash is wet. Let each layer dry or add one new color at a time.
Do I have to draw the leaf first?
A light pencil outline helps you keep the shape, but you can paint a loose leaf freehand. Erase gently after the paint is fully dry.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
