Welcome to this easy step-by-step Autumn Leaves on Road painting tutorial!
If you’ve ever wanted to capture the magic of fall with its golden and warm hues, this painting is perfect for you. In this acrylic landscape tutorial, I’ll walk you through the entire process—from creating the soft blue background of the sky to using a palette knife to add texture to the fallen autumn leaves on road.
This painting is part of my Fall Foliages class, where you’ll apply the knife techniques you’ve been learning so far, as well as the tree painting methods introduced earlier in the class. By the end, you’ll not only have a stunning fall landscape but also a better grasp of how to use the palette knife for added dimension.
If you love autumn paintings, check out Fall Foliages.
Here is the reference video of this painting.
Fall Foliages: Mastering Autumn Trees & Landscapes
“The autumn road paintings were my favorite part of the class. Learning to use a palette knife for the fallen leaves opened up a whole new world of texture for me!” — Emily S
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MATERIALS YOU NEED
Acrylic Colors:
- Cadmium yellow
- Cadmium Orange
- Crimson red
- Burnt sienna
- Viridian hue (dark green)
- Prussian blue
- White
- Black
Surface:
- I painted on an A5 acrylic paper.
Acrylic Brushes:
- I used a size 8 flat brush which is perfect for this canvas size. If you are painting bigger, then switch to a size that is proportionate with your painting surface.
- Size 2 round brush
Get my exact supply list for acrylic paintings, with helpful color mixing tips that you can start implementing right away!
painting steps:
Create the Background
Start by using a flat brush to paint the top of the canvas in soft blue and white tones, fading it into a light gray toward the horizon to give that cool autumn sky effect.Paint the Trees
Next, use a fine brush to add the fall trees along both sides of the road. Focus on blending shades of orange, yellow, and brown to capture the vibrant colors of fall leaves.Form the Road
Paint the road with a neutral gray using a flat brush, ensuring you maintain perspective, so the road narrows into the distance.Add Texture to the Leaves with a Knife
Now for the fun part—using a palette knife to apply thick strokes of orange, yellow, and brown for the leaves scattered along the road. The knife will give the leaves a textured, three-dimensional appearance, making them stand out.
This is a beginner-friendly project but with enough technique to challenge and expand your acrylic painting skills. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to bring the feeling of autumn to life with this Autumn Leaves on Road Painting tutorial!
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If this painting excites you and you’re eager to dive deeper into learning autumn landscapes with acrylics, join my Fall Foliages class!
In this class, I guide you through nine different autumn landscapes and teach you various techniques, from brushwork to knife painting.
You’ll not only master how to paint autumn trees and leaves, but also develop your skills in creating textured, vibrant, and stunning fall-themed paintings.
Whether you’re painting for fun or to improve your skills, this Autumn Leaves on Road Painting will help you capture the essence of fall on canvas.
As you practice blending colors and using a knife for texture, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the art of landscape painting.
Be sure to share your creation, and don’t forget to explore the other projects in my Fall Foliages class for more autumn inspiration!
What’s your favorite fall landscape to paint? Comment below and let’s talk about your autumn art inspirations!
Pin the below image in your Pinterest board for future reference.
