Kids and adults of all ages are sure to love this simple watercolor fall leaves painting idea. Art projects with autumn leaves, like these fall leaf art projects, make it possible to create gorgeous fall art that can be framed and hung on the wall. Painting autumn leaves with watercolors, using a black resist medium is also a fun science experiment and STEAM activity for kids!
Paint imperfect autumn leaves in watercolor
If you are interested in a more challenging leaf painting, this course is for you.
Here you won’t paint another perfectly colored leaf. Here you won’t create another flat illustration.
In this course, we will go deep into recreating a special texture of old leaves with all their tonal and color transitions, worn effects, and crisp details.
We will use multiple techniques to paint leaves and explore all the specifics of 100% cotton paper. You will also take a look at the extensive autumn palette consisting of 11 colors.
We will create a realistic composition of fallen autumn leaves just like they are in real life.
Course level: Advanced
Quality Video & Sound
We use professional equipment in a studio to record our videos. The sound is crisp, the image is clear and you will never miss a detail! Watch from any device from anywhere in the world.
Easy To Follow Lessons
Every course has a clear structure: from art tools to a color palette to the first layer. Every stroke is demonstrated from 2 angles and every technique is explained. And if you have questions you can always ask us directly.
Strong Theoretical Basis
No guess-work and intuitive painting. Our lessons are based on theory and academic knowledge which give students the ability to paint with confidence. You will not only know the “how” but also “the why”.
Watercolor techniques you will explore
Sketch the composition of your leaves (downloadable outline included).
Work on an extensive autumn palette of 11 colors (alternative palette included).
Discover 2 approaches to painting leaves: wet on wet technique; wet on dry technique and working by segments.
Create a dynamic background with wet on dry technique.
Work on the realistic texture of an old worn autumn leaf.
Practice painting thin and delicate veins with no stress.
We add new course every month
Lessons in this watercolor course
Imperfect autumn leaves in watercolor – 2 mins
Supplies overview
Sketching the composition – 12 mins
Autumn color palette: 11 colors – 10 mins
Painting the first leaf: technique option #1 – 13 mins
Painting the second leaf: technique option #2 – 15 mins
Start with layering technique: first leaf – 8 mins
Second layer on the second leaf – 10 mins
Start painting the background – 15 mins
Working on the dark red leaf – 11 mins
Continue working on the background leaves – 16 mins
Finishing the background – 16 mins
Creating veins on the background leaves – 19 mins
Details on the main leaves – 13 mins
Final touch on the main leaves – 14 mins
How do you learn watercolor for beginners?
There are several ways to learn watercolor for beginners. You can take classes at a local art school or community center, watch online tutorials, read books or watch instructional DVDs, or simply practice on your own. It’s essential to start with the basics and gradually build up your skills by practicing different techniques and experimenting with different materials.
Is it hard to learn watercolor painting?
Watercolor painting can be challenging, but it is also a very rewarding and enjoyable medium to work with. While it may take some time and practice to develop your skills, it is definitely possible to learn watercolor painting as a beginner.
Can I teach myself watercolor?
Yes, you can definitely teach yourself watercolor. With the wealth of information available online and in books, you can learn the basics of watercolor painting and start practicing on your own. However, taking classes or seeking guidance from more experienced artists can also help develop your skills and get feedback on your work.
Is watercolor good for beginners?
Watercolor is a great medium for beginners, as it is versatile, forgiving, and relatively inexpensive compared to other painting mediums. With watercolor, you can create a range of effects from delicate washes to bold, expressive strokes, and it is easy to transport and use on location.
What type of watercolor is best for beginners?
For beginners, it is recommended to start with student-grade watercolor paints, as they are less expensive and easier to work with. Look for watercolor paints that are labeled as “student grade” or “beginner’s set.” You’ll also need watercolor paper and a few brushes, but you don’t need to invest in expensive materials immediately.
What is the golden rule of watercolor?
The “golden rule” of watercolor is to work from light to dark. This means that you should start with light washes of color and gradually build up the intensity and depth of the colors as you go. This allows you to create a sense of depth and dimension in your paintings.
What are the basic watercolor techniques?
Some of the basic watercolor techniques include wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, dry brush, and lifting. Wet-on-wet involves applying wet paint to wet paper, which creates soft, blended effects. Wet-on-dry involves applying wet paint to dry paper, which creates more defined edges. Dry brush involves using a nearly dry brush to create texture and interest while lifting involves removing paint from the paper using a damp brush or cloth.
Is watercolor harder than acrylic?
Watercolor and acrylic are different mediums, and each has its own unique challenges and advantages. Watercolor can be more challenging in terms of controlling the flow and consistency of the paint, while acrylic can be more forgiving and easier to cover mistakes. Ultimately, it depends on your personal preferences and what you’re comfortable working with.
What is the hardest painting style?
The answer to this question is subjective and depends on individual skill level and personal preferences. However, some people might consider hyperrealism or photorealism to be the hardest painting style, as it requires a high level of technical skill, attention to detail, and precision. These styles aim to create paintings that are extremely realistic and resemble photographs, which can be a difficult task to achieve. Other challenging styles might include abstract expressionism or conceptual art, which require a strong conceptual understanding and ability to convey complex ideas through visual art. Ultimately, the difficulty of a painting style will depend on the artist’s individual strengths, weaknesses, and artistic goals.
Fall Leaves Resist Art Supplies
- White glue & black acrylic paint, OR, black oil pastel, OR, black crayon
- Heavy cardstock or watercolor paper
- Liquid, tube,pallet or Stockmar watercolor paint
- Paintbrushes or water brushes
- Construction paper or colored cardstock
- FREE Leaf Art Printable Templates (optional)
How to Paint Fall Leaves with Watercolors
Enjoy this watercolor fall leaves art project with children for a fun weekend project or homeschool art lesson. It provides a fantastic fall-themed art lesson in watercolor resist techniques for use at home or in the classroom.
- First, choose a black resist medium to use to create beautifully contrasting fall leaves art. Black pastel, black crayon, or black glue each make an excellent resist medium for painting autumn leaves. The directions to make black glue are listed directly below these instructions.
- Next, use the black resist medium to trace real fall leaves, or outline any of the fall leaf clip art printables (maple, oak, or beach leaf) that we provide for our newsletter subscribers.
- Finally, choose 2-3 colors of watercolor paint for each autumn leaf. Use the watercolors to paint the leaves outlined with the black watercolor resist medium.
We recommend completing this fall art project for kids in two parts or stages. Draw or trace autumn leaves the first day, and use watercolors to paint them the next. A more detailed step by step tutorial for this fall leaf art project is listed below the directions to make black glue. Scroll down if you would like to see the steps to make fall leaves art with a bit more explanation.
How to Make Black Glue
- Add a squirt of black acrylic paint to a small bottle of white glue and shake well.
- Make sure the glue bottle is not full, so there is plenty of room for the ingredients to mix and blend.
- Remember that white glue dries clear. Black glue does not have to look completely black when it is wet. A greyish color will work. The white glue will appear black when it dries as long as there is some black acrylic paint mixed into it.
We have a small bottle of glue dedicated to continually mixing white glue and black acrylic paint into to make a never-ending supply of black glue. We never measure, and it always turns out fine.
Watercolor Fall Leaves Art Project: Step by Step Tutorial
If you are working with children, we recommend completing this fall art project in two parts or stages. Complete steps one and two the first day, or prepare it in advance, and come back another day to finish this fall leaves painting project for kids.
Step 1 – Choose a Watercolor Resist Medium
First, choose a black watercolor resist medium to create fall leaves art. Use black oil pastel, black crayon, or take a few minutes to make a mixture of black glue. Directions to make black glue are in the section above.
Step 2 – Draw or Trace Fall Leaves
Invite children to draw a fall leaf, trace real fall leaves, or download and print any of our fall leaf art templates–maple, oak, and beech onto heavy cardstock or watercolor paper. The preschool artist pictured below chose to trace her fall leaves watercolor art with black glue as the watercolor resist medium. Black glue requires a mindful hand. It tends to pool and spread when used in large amounts. Use it sparingly to keep beautiful lines.
Step 3 – Paint Fall Leaves with Watercolors
If you choose to use black glue as the watercolor resist medium, make sure that the black glue is completely dry (overnight is best) before you invite children to use watercolors to paint fall leaves art.
Before painting, it is a good idea to place newspaper or paper towels underneath the watercolor autumn leaf art to help soak up any excess water, especially if you are working with young children.
In our Waldorf-inspired daycare, we like to invite our preschoolers and kindergarteners to use Stockmar watercolor paints so they can have fun experimenting with color mixing. The preschool artist pictured below used red and yellow watercolor paint for the maple leaf, yellow and blue watercolor paint for the beech leaf, and all three watercolors for the oak leaf.
If your children have never worked with watercolors, we recommend preparing at least one extra fall leaf so you can demonstrate how to paint with watercolors first. Show more than tell, young children learn best by watching and imitating others.
Watercolor painting is a perfectly imperfect art form. The key to working with watercolors is to go with, as opposed to against, the way they naturally move and flow. Use water to help them flow mix and blend even more, but be careful, adding too much water can dilute the vibrancy of the colors.
The artist pictured below created orange by layering red and yellow watercolor paints as she worked to make her fall leaf art masterpiece. She has created many Waldorf-inspired wet-on-wet watercolor paintings and was ready for the challenge of painting fall leaf art with only the primary colors.
Please note: Black glue will resist watercolor paint but can pull the color black into the fall leaf watercolor painting. Be careful; if you mix in too much black acrylic paint into the white glue, or if the art gets too wet, black will seep into the fall artwork. Please have a look at our black glue rose, black glue starfish or winter tree art for more watercolor resist art tips!
The fall leaf pictured below was painted with blue and yellow Stockmar Watercolor Paints. Invite your children, or students, to give color mixing fall leaf art a try. Invite them to use two primary colors to paint each outlined fall leaf.
For more information about how to help children work with watercolors, feel free to read up about single-color, two-color, and three-color wet-on-wet watercolor painting.
Step 6 – Mount fall leaf art onto pieces of construction paper. (optional)
Once the fall leaf art has had a chance to dry, cut each of the fall leaves out, and glue them onto a piece of complementary or contrasting colored cardstock or construction paper. This step is optional but makes it possible to display or hang this fall leaves painting idea.
More Watercolor Resist Art Projects for Kids
- The Science of Watercolor Resist Art
- Rose Watercolor Resist Art
- Watercolor Surprise Heart Art
- Winter Tree Watercolor Resist Art
- Snowy Alpine Tree Watercolor Art
- Ocean-Themed Under the Sea Watercolor Resist Art Projects
- Starfish Black Glue Resist Art Project
- Watercolor Surprise Easter Egg Art
