Fall Mountain Landscape Painting Step-by-Step Tutorial

Embrace the Beauty of Fall with Your Paintbrush

Problem

Have you ever tried to capture the breathtaking beauty of a fall mountain landscape but ended up feeling overwhelmed or frustrated? The vibrant colors, the contrast between the trees and the sky, and the complex layering can seem like a challenge. You might have thought, “This looks beautiful in real life, but can I really recreate this on canvas?”

Agitate

The truth is, many aspiring artists struggle with painting landscapes, especially when it comes to depicting mountains and the unique colors of autumn. With so many details to consider, it’s easy to feel like you’re not able to do justice to the scene in front of you. You might have tried painting before, but the end result didn’t quite look like what you envisioned. You’ve probably wondered what you’re missing—maybe you need the right techniques, guidance, or a little extra practice.

But, let me tell you—capturing the essence of a fall mountain landscape is absolutely possible, and it can be much more fun and satisfying than you think.

Solution

In this step-by-step tutorial, I’m going to walk you through an easy-to-follow method for painting a fall mountain landscape. By breaking down each part of the process and focusing on key techniques, you’ll be able to bring the majestic beauty of autumn into your artwork. Whether you’re a beginner or have some painting experience, this tutorial is designed to help you achieve a stunning landscape that you’ll be proud of.

Materials Needed

Before diving into the actual painting, let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need:

Canvas: A 16×20 inch canvas is a good standard size for landscapes.

Acrylic or Oil Paints: Choose a basic palette that includes:

• Titanium White
• Phthalo Blue (for the sky)
• Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber (for the trees and earth)
• Cadmium Yellow (for highlights)
• Crimson Red (for the autumn leaves)
• Payne’s Gray (for shadows)
• A little bit of Black for deep shadows

Brushes: A variety of brushes—flat brushes for broad strokes, round brushes for detail, and fan brushes for texture.

Palette and Water: To mix your paints.

Palette knife: For blending and texture effects.

Step 1: Sketching the Basic Outline

Problem: Starting a landscape painting without a solid plan can be daunting. If you’re not sure where to place the mountains, trees, or sky, it’s easy to get lost. A well-executed sketch is key to setting a good foundation.

Solution: Begin by sketching a simple outline of your landscape on the canvas. Lightly draw the horizon line where the mountains will begin. Then, sketch the rough shapes of the mountain peaks and the general direction of the tree line. Don’t worry about perfection—this step is just to guide the overall composition.

Sketching the outline of mountains and trees. A basic pencil sketch on canvas, including horizon line and rough shape of the mountain peaks.

Step 2: Blocking in the Sky and Mountains

Problem: One of the trickiest parts of any landscape painting is achieving depth in the mountains and sky. Without the right techniques, everything can look flat and lifeless.

Agitate: You might feel frustrated when your sky and mountains look too harsh or don’t blend together well. A smooth gradient and natural transitions are key to creating depth, but achieving this can feel intimidating.

Solution: Start with the sky. Using a large flat brush, apply a soft gradient from light blue at the horizon to a darker blue at the top. This simulates the natural progression of the sky from distant to close.

For the mountains, mix dark gray with a bit of blue and lightly fill in the outline. Leave some areas lighter for distant mountain peaks and others darker for the closer ones. Blend the paint along the edges to create a misty, distant effect.

Filling in the sky with soft gradients of blue. Image showing the first layer of the mountains with a darker tone and misty feel.

Step 3: Layering the Fall Foliage and Trees

Problem: Capturing the vibrant and varied colors of fall leaves can seem like a difficult task. How do you make the leaves look real and full of life, with the intricate color patterns of autumn?

Agitate: The leaves in fall can be a tricky subject due to their multi-tonal hues—yellow, orange, red, and brown. If the colors aren’t balanced correctly, the trees can end up looking flat or unrealistic.

Solution: Use a round brush to block in the main colors of the trees. Start with yellow and orange shades for the leaves near the tree tops. Use crimson red for the branches that are changing colors. For the ground cover, use a mix of burnt sienna and raw umber for the fallen leaves.

Painting the autumn foliage with layers of orange, red, and yellow on tree tops. Ground covered in brown fallen leaves.

Step 4: Adding Details to the Trees and Foreground

Problem: Sometimes, adding details to trees can be tricky. How do you make the branches and leaves stand out without overdoing it?

Agitate: It can be frustrating trying to achieve the perfect texture for tree branches or making sure the foreground feels detailed and alive. Too little detail, and the painting can seem unfinished, while too much can make it look busy and cluttered.

Solution: Use a smaller round brush to add detail to the tree branches, adding a mix of darker tones for depth and lighter tones for highlights. For the foreground, paint over the fallen leaves with smaller brushstrokes, varying the colors and tones. Use your fan brush for texture when painting grass or shrubs.

Detailed texture on tree branches, foreground with leaves and grass starting to show depth.

Step 5: Finalizing the Shadows and Highlights

Problem: Without proper shadows and highlights, your painting might lack depth and realism. How do you ensure the lighting is consistent and that the landscape pops?

Agitate: Shadows are essential in landscape painting to make elements appear 3-dimensional. Without them, your painting may look flat and lacking in realism.

Solution: To add depth, start by applying shadows on the far side of your mountains with a mix of Payne’s gray and black. Use your fan brush to add subtle shadows under trees and along the ground, where natural light wouldn’t reach. Then, add highlights to the tops of trees and mountain ridges where the light would hit most directly.

Painting shadows under trees and on mountains, adding highlights to the tops of trees and peaks.

Step 6: Adding Final Touches

Problem: The final details can make or break your painting. What should you focus on in these last stages to bring everything together?

Solution: In this stage, take a step back and assess the entire painting. Add small details like birds in the sky or texture to the tree bark. You can also add a little more light to the sky or adjust the colors in the foreground to make sure everything feels balanced.

Final touches—adding small birds in the sky, final highlights, and texturing.

Conclusion: Enjoy the Process and Your Artwork

Problem: After putting in all this effort, many artists are still unsure if they’ve created a piece they can be proud of.

Solution: Celebrate your progress! You’ve followed a detailed step-by-step guide to create your own fall mountain landscape, and the result is a beautiful and personal representation of autumn’s beauty. Remember that painting is a journey, and each brushstroke adds to your growth as an artist.