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Writer's pictureAmarilys Henderson

Tutorial Roundup: Paint Fall Leaves in Watercolor!

Updated: Nov 27

A leaf is a leaf is a leaf… unless it's in watercolor! Watercolor leaves are lovely. The texture, the warm hues and the shift color shifts make them perfect subjects for this medium. Find many ways to paint them below! We've rounded up a collection of ways to keep your fall feels satisfied.

Heres' a kickstart to paint fall leaves in watercolor

transluscent watercolor maple and walnut leaves

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Tricky Watercolor Techniques in Simple Leaves


Go about it with either of the two traditional watercolor methods: wet on wet and wet on dry? Does that sound scary? Nah! This very simple exercise will show you the difference. And you'll likely find which you gravitate towards.


In order to do this, we're going to take on a simple, versatile subject: the humble leaf.


Watch me paint the same leaf shape using three painting techniques.


simple leaves painted in watercolor

*And no, the paint does not magically ooze out of my brush. Loading up on water and paint was removed from the video to keep it interesting.


Three Watercolor Leaves in Three Techniques


  1. Wet on Dry Technique - We'll use the symmetrical shape of a classic, pointy leaf. Paint two parenthesis with a brush that has both water and paint on it. Fill with the remaining paint-water mixture on your brush. This is the simplest way to paint in watercolor--outline and fill.

  2. Wet on Wet Technique - This time we'll paint our leaves with water. (My water has a bit of color to it so that you can see it!) Load your brush with paint and drop color into the puddle of a leaf. This technique exploits the beauty of watercolor, allowing the paint particles to disperse in bleeds.

  3. Two-Tone Wet on Wet - Paint the leaf with water as you did above, but add two different colors on each each end of the leaf. The trick to this technique is to let it dry without blending the two colors together!


Love Painting Leaves? Let the fall leaf watercolor sesh begin!


Paint Leaf Veins Three Ways


Veins, the little lines in leaves, can look different among different species. Sometimes we get stuck in our one way of doing things and need a reminder: God created abundant diversity!


artist shows how to creatively paint lines on leaves

  1. Structured - The graphic approach that speaks to a rhythmic, mathematical structure will create a flat feel that adds a nice element of tension when placed with a flowing flower.

  2. Organic - Give an increased natural feel with veins that stem from each other, highlighting how they function to deliver nutrients within the leaf.

  3. In and out - These veins aren't broken, but cause the leaf to bend and buckle, creating shadows in undulations. You can also add spots to shake things up!


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Playful Method to Paint the Tricky Maple Leaf


Tried to paint a good Maple Leaf but found them tricky? Let me give you a playfully humble method. Get the complex form and elusive silhouette down. Then add your own colorful bleeds, veins, and texture!


artist creates the form of a maple leaf with lines

Part 1: Paint the Maple Leaf's Form

  1. 🐓 Three Chicken Feet. Stay with me. Paint three lines jutting from the same base point. Make three sets.

  2. 🦆 Three Duck Feet. Connect or web the three sets to create solid forms.

  3. 🍁 One Form. Connect all three by extending each foot until they meet. Round out the bottom.


watercolor brush touches edges of the leaf to create toothy texture

Part 2: Perfecting the Maple Leaf's Textured Silhouette

  1. Create ridges with the tip of your brush as we did in last week's Tip Tuesday

  2. Add two budding tips at the base of the stem

  3. Vary color, add veins, create interest!


You'll never look at maple leaves the same way again! 🐓→🦆→🍁


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Amarilys teaches from her successes as a surface designer in her favorite medium: watercolor. Learn from Amarilys | License Art with Amarilys


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