Birch Trees in Autumn Original Watercolor Painting Demonstration on Yupo Paper

It's mid August and the crickets are chirping loudly outside my window. Though daytime temps are warm, the nights are cool and I've noticed some maple trees with a few orange leaves. Fall is on the way.

With that in mind, I decide to try a painting of autumnal birch trees in watercolor on Yupo paper. Yupo allows for vivid color since the paint does not soak in. Autumn color is vivid, right? So it seems a good match.

Let's see how this 14x11 inch painting turns out:

Great Blue Heron Autumn Landscape Lake Painting Watercolor Demo on Yupo Paper

Blue herons are a favorite of mine. I had taken a photo one autumn of a heron by the water's edge and have been meaning to paint it. No surprise I want to try this scene using watercolor on Yupo paper (my newest fav) to see what will happen.

To follow the exciting progress and see the final version, read on...

Birches at White Lake in Autumn Watercolor Painting

"Birches at White Lake in Autumn"

White Lake in New Hampshire is beautiful. It has a completely white sand bottom from one end to the other formed by a glacier long ago, and the water is crystal clear.

The lake inspired this painting of birch trees in autumn. But there is a lot of imagination sprinkled throughout, so hunt though you might, you will not find this exact spot!  I hope you like it nonetheless.

Autumn Glory II - A Fall River Painting in Watercolor

If you have been following my blog for any length of time, you will probably recognize this scene. It is inspired by the stony rivers and streams that run through New England and the glorious autumn color that sets the countryside ablaze in fall.

I have painted this scene three times in oil (twice with birch trees) and once prior to this in watercolor. Though the scene is the same, each time the painting is different. The size is one factor, the medium is another. Mostly it is because the way I approach a painting changes.

This particular watercolor is 11x14 and is a companion piece for the Fall Reflections watercolor I did recently. They were both requested as a commission. So let's see how I painted this watercolor!

Fall Reflections Autumn Watercolor Painting

Fall Reflections is a scene of autumn trees that I have painted before in oil on canvas. I received a request to paint it in watercolor - it was a great opportunity to try the scene in a different medium. It is a companion piece for another autumn watercolor I will do for the same client.

All paintings start with an inspiration - mine often are inspired by the natural world that surrounds me. Below is the scene near my studio that inspired this painting. As you can see in the painting above, I added more color and moved the pond to the foreground so we can see the reflections.

Here's how I did this painting:

Chrysanthemums, Pumpkins and Birds - Watercolor Painting Demonstration

Pumpkins, Birds and Mums
Recently, my watercolor students have been painting Autumn scenes. This means pumpkins and chrysanthemums are included.

They particularly wanted to know how to paint mums which can seem difficult at first because they are a mound of color broken up into individual flowers. You may be wondering the same thing.

So, let's take a look at how I painted the mums in this scene.

Cornstalks, Chrysanthemums and Indian Corn Autumn Watercolor Painting Demonstration

 Cornstalks and Chrysanthemums original watercolor painting 5"x7"

It's such a joy to visit a farm stand in the fall - so many treasures to delight the eye and to bring home: crisp apples, pumpkins, colorful mums and dried cornstalks for your porch or lamp post.

This scene is from a local farm stand. I had a great time painting it because of all the great colors in the flowers, the Indian corn and especially the cornstalk leaves. I'll show you how I did that below:

Autumn Barn Painting Chrysanthemums at the Farm Stand

This pretty scene is from a farm stand in a nearby town. I was driving by one sparkling autumn day and the banks of colorful mums caught my eye. So I stopped and, while the crowds of people were shopping for pumpkins and flowers, I took pictures!

These mums were on a large cart with a red barn in the distance. Let's take a look below at how I painted this scene.

Autumn Glory Original Watercolor Landscape Painting

October arrives and with the cool weather, you feel the urge to go North as the birds are flying South. Fall beckons you to places far from the maddening swirl of everyday life where the only sound is a brook running along a stony bed, the only sight a wild landscape alive with the glorious hues of Autumn.

I'll show you how I painted this scene. It took me three tries to get this painting just the way I want it - fresh, spontaneous and impressionistic. One never stops learning as an artist!

Fall Maple and Oak Leaves Watercolor Paintings

More Autumn leaves! I painted these two small watercolor paintings of oak leaves and maple leaves using the same color palette for both: russet, golden green and orange.
They make a nice pair, don't you think? A great way to decorate for fall. Each painting is 5"x3.5". They'll fit a standard frame with a 3.5 x 5 inch mat opening.

I'm happy to take custom orders! Contact me for a custom painting or to have a print made of a painting you like.

Find more of my leaf paintings in my shop here

Perkins Cove Maine in Autumn Original Watercolor Painting

The beautiful and rugged coast of Maine at Perkins Cove is the inspiration for this painting.
I've painted this scene several times but this is the first time in the Fall season. I began it as a demonstration of crashing surf for my watercolor students, then added autumn foliage as it is part of my Autumn Collection.

I'm happy to take custom orders! Contact me for a custom painting or to have a print made of a painting you like.

Japanese Maple Leaves Autumn Watercolor Painting

To continue my Autumn Collection, here is a painting using Japanese Maple leaves as templates. They have such a pretty design as they are, and their deep burgundy color is lovely. In this piece, I saved most of the color for the background allowing the leaves to show lighter against the deeper colors of autumn.
Below is a video so you can see how I painted this.

Paper Birches in Autumn watercolor paintings

More birches! These two are very nice together and, in fact, I painted them at the same time with the same palette of primary colors - one that works especially well with autumn paintings: cadmium red, french ultramarine blue and cadmium yellow.

The scene to the left is inspired by a view that I like in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There is a mountain road that twists and winds through the mountain range from East to West called the Kancamagus Highway.

Along this road on the eastern portion is a stony river. You might see it behind the trees along with a peek at a mountain top in the distance.

White paper birches line the roadside in many places like in this painting which is 7"x5" painted on handmade watercolor paper.

Paper birch trees, with their bright white bark that glows in the sunlight are a favorite of mine. I enjoy painting these lovely trees especially in autumn when the maples and oaks lend color to the background.

To the right is a grouping of four birch trees also 7"x5" and painted on handmade watercolor paper.

Both of the original Birch Tree Paintings are sold.

But fine art prints on watercolor paper or canvas are available in my Fine Art Print shop here: Birch Trees Prints.

Autumn Harbor Seascape Plockton Scotland Watercolor Painting

A quaint harbor in remote Plockton, Scotland was the inspiration for this painting. The harbor is on Loch Carron, which is an inlet from the sea in the rugged northern part of Scotland.

I painted this piece to demonstrate to my watercolor students how reflections are made when broken up by movement in the water. The yellows, russets and greens of early Autumn in the trees along the shore make colorful reflections, don't they?

Apple Tree Original Watercolor Painting

The apples are red and ripe in this 8"x10" watercolor of an apple tree in a field. It's that time of year again to go apple picking. Just think of coming home with bushels of delicious, crisp, juicy fruit to make apple pie, applesauce, apple cake...and eat apples just as they are straight from the tree!
In any case, that must be what has inspired me to paint this piece.Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have some yummy apples to pick where you are.

The original painting is sold, but you can contact me if you would like to order a print.

Paper Birch Trees in the Mountains - original watercolor painting

Paper birch trees are stunning in a natural setting, especially when there is some fall color as in this scene. In this painting, the white bark of the tree trunks is enlivened by some bright maple leaves from a young sapling growing near them.

This piece was inspired by a group of trees along a mountain path. The trees against the bright autumn leaves caught my eye while I was climbing Mt. Chocorua in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

This painting has been sold, but you can contact me to have one made just for you.

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Looking for something special? Contact me for a custom painting or to have a print made of a painting you like.

Paper Birch Trees Watercolor Painting

I think I'm on a roll with painting birch trees. These are some that are just down the road from my place. This view is looking up a bit into the trees. The scene is set in early fall with the leaf colors just beginning to turn.


Take a look at my Autumn artwork in my Etsy shop. Thanks for checking out my newest painting and have a lovely day!

Path with Birches Original Watercolor Painting

Ooh! I could feel it in the air today... a cool, crisp, blue-sky, breezy kind of day...a few leaves fluttering down. Yes, autumn is in the air even though it's not yet here.

So I painted an autumn scene that was inspired by a path around a lake in New Hampshire, one of my favorite places to be at this time of year. Paper birches are abundant in that area and so pretty with autumn foliage.

You can find my birch tree art prints for sale in my Fine Art Prints Shop.

Original birch tree paintings are in my Original Art Shop when available.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunflower and Honey Bee Painting Original Watercolor

It's sunflower time of year again and gardens are bright with the happy colors of these flowers. I painted this sunflower with a visiting honey bee against a soft blue sky.

You can see the painting in progress to the left. Since watercolors are transparent, paler colors are painted first and dark colors last. You can click the image above to see it larger.

The 7"x5" original watercolor of Sunflower and Honey Bee is available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Paper Birch Trees in Autumn Watercolor Paintings

My watercolor students have been painting trees all summer. Most recently, we practiced birch trees. What I like about my students is that they will watch me demonstrate and then paint in their own unique styles with no two paintings coming out alike. I give them helpful tips and advice while painting and we have lots of fun.
After class is over, I will often work more on my demo paintings until I feel they are truly finished.

Below are two that I started during our last class and finished later. I like to paint birches against the bright colors of autumn.

 Both of the original Birch Tree Paintings are sold.

But fine art prints on watercolor paper or canvas are available in my Fine Art Print shop here: Birch Trees Prints.