I’ve been painting for years, and I still get a little thrill every time I mix a new color.
My favorite part is how calming it can be to follow a step-by-step guide and see something beautiful take shape right in front of me.
Some people love complicated projects, but I really enjoy stress-free lessons that let me experiment without feeling overwhelmed.
I’ve tried so many techniques, and I’ve learned that the best paintings come when you relax and just enjoy the process.
In this list, I’ve collected 25 acrylic painting lessons that are easy to follow and full of inspiration for anyone looking to have fun and unwind.
I hope that these lessons will make painting feel approachable and totally enjoyable, even on your busiest days.
Golden Autumn Forest Glow
This stunning piece features a cluster of dark and bold tree trunks that slice vertically through a sea of vibrant yellow and orange leaves. The composition uses a simple repetitive layout to create a sense of depth as the trees get thinner and lighter in the background. You can see thick and textured dabs of acrylic paint that mimic the look of crisp autumn foliage. The high contrast between the jet-black bark and the sun-drenched canopy makes the entire scene feel like it is glowing from within. At the base of the trees, scattered patches of gold suggest a soft carpet of fallen leaves on a cool and mossy forest floor.
I am totally charmed by how therapeutic this project feels because you get to play with heavy texture without worrying about being perfect. This project is a blast because it lets you lean into those messy and satisfying palette knife or thick brush movements. There is something so soothing about layering bright yellows over a dark base to see the forest come alive. If you happen to be looking for a way to clear your head, the repetitive motion of painting these tall and sturdy trunks is a great way to find your flow. It is a fantastic choice for anyone wanting a bold result with very little stress.
Pastel Sunset Shoreline
This dreamlike coastal scene features a brilliant sun hanging low over a multicolored ocean with layers of soft peach and fiery orange stretching across the sky. The composition draws the eye from the distant horizon down to the foreground, where delicate white sea foam licks a sandy beach dotted with tiny seashells. You can see energetic horizontal strokes in the sky that contrast with the swirling and frothy textures of the crashing waves. The color palette is a gorgeous mix of warm sunset tones and cool purples or blues in the water, which creates a perfectly balanced and serene layout.
I think this project is a total joy for anyone who wants to master the art of blending because the transitions between those candy-colored clouds are so forgiving. The lesson starts with blocking in those big vibrant bands of color for the sky and sea before layering in the white highlights that make the water sparkle. You get to spend time dabbing on the foamy crests of the waves and painting the cute little shells, which is honestly such a meditative process. It feels like a mini vacation on canvas, and the result is something you will be so proud to display.
Sunset Cobblestone Village
This charming scene captures a narrow village street tucked between tall buildings under a glowing pink and orange sky. The composition uses perspective to lead your eyes down the winding road toward the light at the end of the alley. Rich shades of violet and indigo wash over the walls in the shadows, while the windows glow with a bright golden light as if lanterns were just lit inside. Short and chunky brushstrokes create the rugged texture of the cobblestones, which reflect the warm colors from above. The overall layout feels cozy and inviting, like a quiet evening stroll through an old European town.
I am absolutely smitten with this project because it makes architectural painting feel like a breeze for beginners. You start by blocking in the simple rectangular shapes of the houses and then layering those dreamy sunset hues into the sky. The most exciting part is adding the little dabs of bright yellow for the windows and using darker tones to suggest the bumpy texture of the stone path. It is a wonderful way to practice light and shadow without needing to be super precise with your lines. This project is just the thing for a relaxing afternoon when you want to get lost in a colorful and faraway place.
Rolling Lavender Hills at Dusk
This breathtaking landscape features a series of soft, undulating hills painted in deep teals and rich magentas that sit beneath a spectacular sunset. The composition is anchored by a winding purple river that snakes through the valley, which creates a lovely sense of movement and flow. Up in the sky, long wispy clouds in shades of coral and fuchsia streak across a bright blue backdrop and catch the last golden rays of the sun. The artist used smooth, blended strokes for the sky and fields while adding darker, textured dabs along the ridges to represent distant trees and shrubbery.
This lesson teaches you how to use unconventional colors to make a scene feel magical. We start by blocking in those large curved shapes for the hills and the river before layering on the boldest pinks and oranges in the sky. You will have so much fun playing with the contrast between the cool shadows on the ground and the warm glow of the horizon. It is a wonderfully engaging way to practice your landscape layout without needing to worry about making every single tree branch look realistic.
Mirror Lake Mountain Reflection
This serene landscape showcases a glass-like lake that perfectly mirrors the towering evergreen trees and dark mountain peaks surrounding it. The composition is split horizontally by the shoreline, which creates a symmetrical layout that feels incredibly balanced and peaceful. Deep blues and bright whites dominate the water and sky, while the trees are rendered in dark forest greens with subtle golden highlights where the light hits the needles. You can see long and smooth horizontal brushstrokes used to create the watery reflections, which contrast beautifully with the sharp and vertical lines of the majestic pines.
Some people love a project that feels like a breath of fresh air, and this mountain scene is exactly that. I am completely obsessed with how the symmetry makes the painting process feel so organized and low-pressure for beginners. You will start by blocking in the large blue shapes for the sky and water before layering the dark silhouettes of the mountains and trees. The real magic happens when you use light horizontal wisps of paint to create those convincing reflections on the surface of the lake. If you’re into nature and want to practice your steady hand with a fan brush or a fine tip for those pine branches, this is a wonderful way to spend an evening.
Cozy Winter Cabin Under Northern Lights
This magical winter scene features a rustic log cabin nestled in a deep blanket of snow under a sky exploding with cosmic color. The composition focuses on the little house in the lower center while towering evergreen trees in shades of electric blue and royal purple frame the sides. A brilliant mix of fiery orange and neon pink swirls in the background sky like the aurora borealis, which casts a warm glow on the snowy ground below. The brush strokes are wonderfully varied, with soft and hazy blending in the sky contrasted by sharp and jagged lines for the pine branches and the structured wooden planks of the cabin.
I adore how this piece captures that snug and warm feeling of being safe inside during a cold winter night. This painting lesson is a total blast because you get to experiment with such an unconventional and high-energy color palette for a snowy landscape. You will start by blocking in the basic shape of the cabin and the silhouettes of the trees before layering those vibrant neon colors into the sky. The final steps involve dabbing on crisp white highlights for the snow on the roof and adding that sweet little puff of smoke from the chimney. It is a fantastic way to practice creating light and atmosphere while playing with some of your brightest paint tubes.
Whimsical Butterfly Garden Party
This vibrant abstract floral design is a total explosion of joy and color. Large and rounded rose shapes in shades of crimson, blush, and deep indigo anchor the busy composition while being surrounded by playful dots of teal and forest green leaves. Three charming butterflies flutter through the scene, adding a sense of life and whimsy to the crowded garden layout. The brushstrokes are delightfully loose and painterly, creating a layered effect where colors overlap and peek through one another. It is a wonderfully energetic piece that skips the tiny details in favor of bold and cheerful shapes that fill every inch of the canvas.
I am smitten with how this piece celebrates imperfection and purely creative play. If you happen to be looking for a project that feels more like an art party than a serious study, this garden scene is your best bet. The lesson involves blocking in large circles of color for your blooms and then layering in the darker green foliage to create depth without any stress. You will spend most of your time dabbing on those cute, round leaves and painting the simple butterfly silhouettes in bright yellows and purples. It is a fantastic way to practice color mixing while keeping your movements light and carefree.
Floating Lanterns on Purple Water
This enchanting night scene includes dozens of glowing orange lanterns drifting lazily above a rippling dark purple lake. The composition is cleverly split between the cluster of bright lanterns in the upper half and their shimmering reflections stretching across the water in the lower half. Deep shades of indigo, magenta, and violet create a rich background that makes the warm golden and reddish-orange light from the lanterns pop with incredible intensity. The artist used quick and horizontal dabs of paint to mimic the movement of the water, while the lanterns themselves have a soft and hazy glow created by blending the edges into the dark sky.
The dreamy and magical atmosphere of this piece really speaks to my soul. I am totally charmed by how the warm light plays against those cool purple tones. This lesson is a fantastic way to explore high contrast without feeling overwhelmed by complex shapes. You will start by blocking in the deep purple and blue background before layering on the simple rectangular shapes of the lanterns. Most of your time will be spent adding the flickers of light on the water surface and using a soft brush to create that beautiful, blurred glow around each lantern. It is a wonderfully meditative process that results in a piece that looks much more difficult than it actually is to create.
Starry Night over Mountain Lake
This breathtaking design features a vast indigo sky filled with a glittering galaxy of stars that hangs over a quiet mountain range. The composition is built on horizontal layers, starting with the dark silhouetted peaks in the middle ground and a calm lake in the foreground that perfectly catches the pink and purple light of the horizon. You can see smooth and blended brush strokes in the transition from the deep blue heavens to the bright magenta sunset line, which adds a sense of immense scale. Tiny splatters of white and gold paint create the textured effect of distant suns and nebulae, while dark grassy silhouettes in the very front add a touch of grounding detail to the overall layout.
I feel like I could stare at this magical view for hours because it is just so peaceful and expansive. This lesson is a fantastic choice if you want to practice your blending skills while making something that looks truly professional. You will begin by blocking in the big bands of color for the sky and the water before painting the simple dark shapes of the mountains. The most exciting part is definitely using a stiff brush to flick those white stars across the canvas and layering in the bright reflections on the water. It is a wonderful way to play with light and shadow without needing to be super precise with your brushwork.
Sunny European Cafe Terrace
This delightful scene transports you straight to a sun-drenched patio filled with colorful umbrellas and overflowing flower boxes. The composition is wonderfully layered with a large lime green umbrella and a coral one dominating the foreground, while smaller purple and blue shades lead your eye deeper into the background. You can see thick and expressive impasto brush strokes used for the blooming flowers, which give them a tactile and lifelike texture that practically jumps off the canvas. Bright teal and pink chairs sit scattered around the terrace, and the ground is dappled with soft shadows that perfectly mimic the feel of a warm and breezy afternoon outdoors.
I adore the cheerful and sunny energy this painting radiates. This lesson is a fantastic opportunity for you to practice working with perspective and overlapping shapes in a way that feels totally approachable. You will start by blocking in the large circular shapes of the umbrellas and the simple lines of the furniture before layering on those juicy and thick dabs of paint for the floral displays. It is such an engaging process to watch the terrace come to life as you add the bright highlights on the cafe chairs and the soft color washes on the ground. This project is perfect for anyone wanting to capture a little slice of summer vacation on their canvas.
Tropical Crimson Songbird
This striking design highlights a bold black bird with a vibrant red chest perched peacefully on a brown branch. The composition is packed with lush and leafy greenery in various shades of lime and emerald that frame the bird on both sides. In the background, a warm sunset sky of fiery orange and yellow peeks through the foliage, creating a beautiful back-lit effect. The brush strokes are quick and expressive, particularly on the pointed tropical leaves, while the bird is rendered with smoother textures to make its soft feathers stand out against the sharp greenery.
I can’t get over the high-energy contrast between the cool green leaves and the scorching sunset colors in this piece. This lesson is a fantastic way to practice painting wildlife without feeling like you need a degree in biology to get it right. You will start by blocking in the bright background colors and then layering the dark silhouette of our feathered friend right in the center. Most of your time will be spent sweeping on those long green leaves and dabbing a bit of bright red on the bird to make it truly pop. It is such a rewarding project that brings a little bit of the jungle right into your living room.
Enchanted Water Lily Pond
This magical pond scene shows glowing pink and white lilies floating peacefully on dark, still water. The composition is built around a dramatic beam of sunlight that cuts diagonally across the upper right corner, illuminating the teal water below. Rich forest greens and deep indigos form the dense background of ferns and overhanging leaves, while the flowers pop with bright, saturated color. The artist used soft, streaky strokes for the light rays and more defined, layered petals for the lilies to create a sense of depth. Tiny white speckles of light dance throughout the foliage, giving the whole layout a fairytale-like shimmer.
I feel like I’ve stumbled into a secret garden just by looking at this gorgeous piece. This lesson is a wonderful chance to practice creating a specific mood using light and shadow. You will start by blocking in the darkest greens and blues for the water and surrounding plants before layering on that stunning diagonal beam of light. Most of your time will be spent painting the simple oval lily pads and adding the thick, colorful strokes that bring the flowers to life. It is such a rewarding project because those final white dots of “fairy dust” make everything feel so finished and professional.
Sunny Coastal Cliff Path
This bright and airy landscape has a winding dirt path that leads the eye toward a distant blue mountain range under a clear azure sky. The composition is framed by jagged grey rock faces on the right and lush green trees on the left, creating a balanced and natural feeling of depth. You can see various wildflowers in shades of purple, yellow, and red dotting the greenery, adding tiny pops of cheerful color to the earthy tones of the trail. The brush strokes are wonderfully diverse, ranging from smooth and wispy clouds in the sky to thick and chunky textures on the rocky cliffs and the pebbled ground.
This scenic view makes me feel like I’ve just stepped out for a refreshing morning hike with a crisp breeze on my face. This painting project is a fantastic way to practice creating texture because you get to play with different brush pressures to make the rocks look rugged and the bushes look fluffy. You will start the lesson by blocking in the big blue sky and the basic tan shape of the path before layering on the darker greys and greens for the landscape. Most of your time will be spent dabbing on the colorful floral details and using a dry brush technique to add highlights to the sunlit stones. It is a lovely way to build your confidence with landscape layers while enjoying a virtual trip to the seaside.
Sunlit Flower Shop Alley
This vibrant street scene showcases an explosion of colorful flower displays lining a rustic cobblestone path. The composition uses the diagonal lines of the building and the shadows on the ground to draw the eye toward the hazy, bright light at the end of the alleyway. A rich palette of royal blue, magenta, and fiery orange blooms spills out of wooden boxes, contrasting beautifully with the warm tan and beige tones of the stone walls. The brush strokes are thick and textured, giving the flowers a tactile, 3D appearance, while the ground is rendered with broad, horizontal sweeps that capture the play of light and shadow across the stones.
I find this design absolutely enchanting because it feels like a secret corner of a Mediterranean village that is just waiting to be explored. This lesson is a fantastic way for you to practice building volume with your paint without needing to be super precise with your drawing. You will begin by blocking in the large, warm shapes of the walls and the dark shadows on the path before layering on those juicy, thick clusters of color for the flowers. It is such a rewarding process to watch the scene transform as you add the final bright highlights to the petals and the light hitting the cobblestones.
Enchanted Forest Waterfall
This breathtaking scene shows a majestic blue waterfall cascading down into a shimmering purple and sapphire pool. The composition is framed by tall, slender trees with vibrant lime and emerald leaves that seem to glow from the sunlight filtering through the canopy above. Thick, textured brush strokes bring the mossy rocks in the foreground to life, while softer, vertical lines depict the rushing water in the background. The overall layout creates a sense of deep immersion, leading your eye from the dark, rocky stream bed up toward the misty, light-filled heights of the forest.
I’m totally drawn to the mysterious charm of this tucked-away forest escape. If you’re into creating a sense of wonder on canvas, this lesson is a perfect fit for your next creative session. You will start by blocking in the dark, moody tones of the forest floor and the brilliant blue of the falls before layering on the bright, sunny greens of the leaves. The most satisfying part is using a palette knife or a dry brush to add those crisp white splashes of water and the mossy textures on the boulders. It is a wonderfully relaxing way to practice light and movement while building a lush, multi-layered landscape.
Pastel River Reflection
This lovely scene highlights a calm blue river cutting through a lush landscape under a soft pink and yellow sunset. The composition uses a central perspective with the water narrowing toward the horizon, which creates a wonderful sense of depth. Silhouetted trees with airy, stippled leaves frame the riverbanks, their dark shapes contrasting beautifully with the bright reflections on the water’s surface. You can see smooth, horizontal strokes in the sky and river that transition from a warm golden yellow to a dusty rose. The overall layout is balanced and symmetrical, giving the entire piece a quiet and contemplative energy.
I feel such a wave of peace whenever I look at these soft, candy-colored reflections. This lesson is a fantastic way to practice your blending and stippling techniques in a low-pressure way. You will start by blocking in the large bands of color for the sky and the water before layering on the dark, simplified shapes of the riverbanks. Most of your time will be spent using a round brush or even a small sponge to dab on the fluffy tree textures and adding those long, horizontal highlights to make the river look like glass. It is a perfect project for a quiet evening when you want to create something beautiful without needing to worry about complex details.
Desert Sunset Dunes
This warm and inviting landscape showcases a rolling desert terrain bathed in the rich glow of a fading sun. The composition features soft sandy ridges in the foreground that lead your eye toward distant purple mountain silhouettes under a multi-layered sky. A beautiful gradient of deep plum, fiery orange, and golden yellow fills the background, while scattered desert shrubs and spindly bare trees add a touch of organic detail to the layout. The brush strokes are exceptionally smooth in the sky to create a seamless blend, while the dunes and bushes have a more textured and feathered look to suggest wind-blown earth and dry foliage.
The heat and stillness of this piece really resonate with me because it feels like a quiet moment of reflection in the middle of nowhere. This lesson is a fantastic opportunity to play with warm color palettes and practice creating soft transitions without any stress. You will start by blocking in the broad horizontal bands of the sunset and the sandy ground before layering on the darker shapes of the distant hills. Most of your time will be spent using a light touch to blend the sky and then adding the fine lines for the desert plants and trees. It is a wonderfully low-pressure way to build your confidence with landscape depth while exploring some of the most beautiful colors in your paint box.
Rustic Barn in Golden Fields
This nostalgic country scene includes a weathered wooden barn sitting solitary amidst a sprawling field of tall grass. The composition is split into three distinct zones, with the dramatic sky taking up the top half, followed by a thin layer of distant blue mountains and the expansive foreground of swaying greenery. Brilliant shades of violet and magenta swirl through the upper clouds while a blazing orange and yellow sun sets directly behind the barn, creating a powerful focal point. You can see energetic and wispy brush strokes in the grass that suggest a gentle evening breeze, contrasting with the solid and sturdy lines of the dark barn silhouette.
The peaceful and grounded energy of this rural landscape really warms my heart. This lesson is a fantastic way to practice your layering skills while exploring how to create light that feels like it is actually glowing on the canvas. You will start by blocking in the intense sunset colors and the dark shape of the barn before layering on the various shades of green and gold for the field. Most of your time will be spent using quick and upward flicking motions with your brush to build the texture of the tall grass, and adding those tiny bright highlights where the sun catches the tops of the blades. It is a wonderfully rewarding project that helps you master the art of creating depth through simple color transitions.
Pink Winter Sunset Reflections
This striking winter scene has a row of dark and spindly evergreen trees standing tall against a sky drenched in neon pink, fiery orange, and bright yellow. The composition is cleverly split between the intense sky and a partially frozen lake in the foreground that perfectly mirrors those electric colors. Thick and textured white paint represents heavy drifts of snow along the shoreline, creating a beautiful contrast with the smooth and liquid-looking reflections in the water. The brush strokes are wonderfully varied, from the soft and wispy clouds to the sharp and jagged silhouettes of the trees, making the overall layout feel both chilly and incredibly vibrant.
The high-octane color palette here makes my creative heart skip a beat because it turns a cold landscape into something so warm and inviting. If you’re into bold and expressive art that doesn’t shy away from bright pigments, this lesson is going to be your new favorite. You will begin by blocking in those juicy sunset bands across the sky and then mirroring them in the water area with long horizontal sweeps. The real fun happens when you layer on the heavy white acrylic for the snowbanks and use a detail brush to create those dark and dramatic tree shapes. It is such an engaging way to practice light and reflection while playing with colors that truly pop off the canvas.
Peaceful Koi Pond Swirls
This stunning top-down view captures a group of vibrant orange and white koi fish gliding through a swirling turquoise pond. The composition is playfully busy with large, round lily pads in bright lime and forest green scattered across the deep blue and teal water. Two delicate pink lotus flowers anchor the corners, which adds a lovely pop of soft color to the cool aquatic palette. You can see energetic and curving brush strokes that create the rippling movement of the water, while the fish are rendered with smooth and detailed scales that make them look like they are dancing just below the surface.
This lively underwater scene is so incredibly charming and full of personality. I think this project is a wonderful way to practice movement and fluid shapes without the pressure of perfect symmetry. The lesson begins with blocking in the various blue and teal tones for the water before layering on the large circular lily pads. You will spend time painting the graceful shapes of the koi fish and adding those tiny white ripples that make the water feel like it is actually moving. It is a fantastic choice if you want to play with bold colors and learn how to create a sense of life and flow in your artwork.
Sun-Dappled Garden Swing
This enchanting scene features a rustic, teal wooden swing suspended from the sturdy, dark limb of an ancient tree. The composition is masterfully framed by the arching branches and deep shadows of the tree on the left, which look out onto a sun-filled garden bursting with life. Lush, painterly layers of emerald and lime green leaves create a dense canopy, while the background is alive with dabs of pink, yellow, and red flowers. The artist used short, rhythmic brush strokes to mimic the flickering of sunlight through the foliage, creating a beautiful interplay of light and shadow across the pathway in the foreground.
The cozy, nostalgic atmosphere of this secret garden retreat fills me with a sense of pure relaxation. This lesson is a perfect way to practice your “stippling” or dabbing technique to create the illusion of thousands of leaves without having to paint each one individually. You will start by blocking in the large, dark silhouette of the tree and the deep shadows on the ground before layering on the brighter greens and floral colors in the background. Most of your time will be spent building up those layers of light with quick, light dabs of your brush and then painting the simple, clean lines of the swing to make it the star of the show.
Golden Hour Cliffside View
This expansive landscape captures the rugged beauty of a mountain range at the peak of golden hour. The composition is anchored by a steep, rocky precipice in the foreground that overlooks a wide valley stretching toward a soft, hazy horizon. A warm palette of honey yellows, burnt oranges, and soft violets fills the sky and reflects off the faceted rock faces, while deep forest greens and purples create rich shadows in the crevices. The brushwork is bold and impressionistic, featuring thick, blocky strokes on the cliffs that contrast with the smoother, blended gradients of the distant hills and glowing sky.
The sheer warmth and scale of this piece make my heart feel light, as if I’m standing on the edge of the world watching the day wind down. This lesson is a fantastic opportunity to practice using bold, directional strokes to create a sense of three-dimensional form. You will start by blocking in the soft, horizontal bands of the sunset and the hazy valley before moving on to the more structured shapes of the foreground rocks. Most of your time will be spent layering rich colors to build highlights and shadows on the cliffs, using a thick application of paint to give the terrain its rugged, tactile feel.
Sun-Drenched Mushroom Forest
This magical woodland scene shows a cluster of golden-orange mushrooms growing along a mossy path deep within a forest. The composition is vertically oriented, with tall, dark tree trunks creating a sense of rhythm and depth as they recede into a hazy, light-filled background. A brilliant beam of sunlight cuts through the center of the piece, illuminating the vibrant green moss and the textured caps of the fungi. The brushwork is wonderfully expressive, using stippled dabs for the lush forest floor and softer, vertical strokes to depict the ethereal rays of light and the distant, misty trees.
The enchanting glow of this piece makes me feel like I’ve just discovered a tiny, hidden world where time stands still. This lesson is a fantastic opportunity to practice creating a glowing “bokeh” effect in the background and building up rich, organic textures. You will begin by blocking in the dark trunks and the soft, pale light of the distant woods before layering on the bright green mossy patches. The highlight of the project is dabbing on the thick, golden paint for the mushrooms and adding that final, dramatic beam of sunlight that brings the whole magical scene together.
Festive Harbor Lanterns
This enchanting evening scene features a quiet harbor filled with dark, silhouetted boats under a sky glowing with the colors of a vibrant sunset. The composition is horizontally layered, with a string of colorful lanterns in shades of red, green, purple, and orange hanging across the top, casting a festive light over the water. Below the fiery orange and yellow horizon, deep blue and teal water ripples with shimmering reflections of both the sunset and the individual lanterns. The brushwork is smooth and blended in the sky, while the water features quick, horizontal dabs of light, and the boats are rendered in solid, sharp dark shapes that anchor the bottom of the canvas.
The combination of the peaceful harbor and those playful, glowing lanterns makes my heart feel incredibly full and festive. This lesson is a fantastic way to practice creating a strong “glow” effect while working with a wide variety of colors. You will start by blocking in the dramatic sunset gradients and the cool blue tones of the water before layering on the dark, simple silhouettes of the boats and the distant mountains. Most of your time will be spent painting the charming little lanterns and adding those rhythmic flickers of light on the water’s surface to make the harbor feel like it is truly alive.
Majestic Blue Whale Deep
This serene underwater scene features a massive blue whale gliding gracefully through a deep, sapphire ocean. The composition is centered around the whale, with its long, powerful body angled slightly upward toward a bright, shimmering patch of light on the water’s surface. Below the whale, a large school of small, dark fish swims in a coordinated, sweeping curve, while smaller clusters of glowing yellow fish dot the lower right corner. The brushwork is incredibly atmospheric, using stippled textures and soft blending to create the misty, sun-drenched quality of the deep sea, contrasting with the more defined lines of the whale’s fins and ridges.
Looking at this vast blue world makes my heart feel calm and reminds me of the quiet beauty hidden beneath the waves. This lesson is a wonderful way for you to practice working with a monochromatic palette and learning how to create a sense of scale. You will start by building up layers of dark and light blues to create that “deep sea” glow before sketching out the simple, elegant silhouette of the whale. Most of your time will be spent dabbing on the light effects at the top and using quick, small strokes to add the schools of fish that give the painting its sense of life and movement.
