How to Paint an Autumn Greetings Card | Easy Sponge Watercolour, by Ruth Clayton Artist on YouTube. 14 min 11 s.
- Video length
- 14 min 11 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Tape your watercolour paper to a board or table so it stays flat while it dries. Sketch a light horizon line and a simple tree trunk with a pencil, keeping the lines faint.
Mix golden yellow, warm orange and russet brown in separate wells of your palette. Keep each colour fairly wet so the sponge picks it up easily.
Tear or cut a small piece of ordinary sponge and dab it into the yellow. Press it lightly onto the paper above the trunk to build the first layer of foliage.
Add orange and brown with fresh pieces of sponge, overlapping the yellow patches. Leave small gaps so the paper shows through and the foliage looks light.
Let the foliage dry completely before adding more. Wet layers will bleed together and turn muddy if you keep dabbing.
Load the rigger brush with a dark brown mix and paint the trunk and fine branches. Use a light touch and taper the strokes towards the tips.
Add a few loose sponge dabs at the base for fallen leaves. Let the whole painting dry flat.
Trim the painting to fit your card blank, leaving a small even border. Glue it to the front of the card and press it flat under a book for a few minutes.
Tips and common mistakes
Test the sponge on scrap paper first so you know how much paint it holds.
Keep the foliage colours separate on the sponge and avoid scrubbing, which lifts the paper surface.
Let each layer dry fully or the browns will bleed into the yellows and look muddy.
Write your message inside with a fine pen once the card is completely dry.
Questions
Can I use a makeup sponge instead of a kitchen sponge?
Yes. Any porous sponge works, but a natural or fine-textured one gives a softer, more even foliage pattern. Test it on scrap paper first.
What paper should I use for a greetings card?
Use watercolour paper of around 200 to 300 gsm so it does not buckle when wet. Cold-pressed paper gives a nice textured finish for foliage.
Do I need a rigger brush for the branches?
A rigger brush makes fine, tapered lines easiest, but a small round brush with a good point will also work if you keep the strokes light.
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.
