Watercolour Landscape Fall Foliage

A lovely small watercolour landscape   using  just 3 colours – prussian blue, permanent brown, yellow green.  These created quite a great range of natural foliage greens, fiery reds, yellows – perfect for autumn colours.

 Limited Palette

I usually try to use just 3 – 4 colours in my paintings,  as this will help me create a more harmonious unified image.

There is also less risk of mud. Its easier and simpler – there is Less confusion as to what colour to put where.  The overall look is more relaxed and not filled with circus like colours jumping about everywhere!

The  water reflections were  splashed down loose and confidently onto the paper to create a lively and fresh look, preventing the painting  from being stiff and tight. Or Muddy.

 

The pale hint of sky blue is echoed into the water to unite and balance the composition.

A great deal of the edges along the topside of the tree foliage is rather sharp and firm,  which needed to be balanced out.  Having the interior of the foliage filled with soft colours merging together does this.

 

In order for there to be enough depth,  I needed  the trees in the background to be cooler, to recede.  Next, I needed  the tree trunk in front to be quite dark with a lot of contrast in order to come forward.

Now,  for my final resolutions –  I just need to soften up the perimeters!