Welcome to this step-by-step art journal tutorial where we capture the magic of fall with a forest full of color, light, and movement. Using fan brushes, layered acrylics, and a whole lot of joy, this project celebrates the fall season!
Prep your art journal page by taping off the edges with painter’s tape. Apply a light coat of matte medium over your entire journal page. This seals the edges and gives you a smooth surface to work on. Let dry fully.
Next, we’ll create an ink-blended background. Using your stencil brush and Mermaid Lagoon archival ink pad, gently blend a soft sky across the top third of your journal page. Then, stamp and blend warm fall tones across the lower two-thirds: greens, oranges, reds, and brown.
At this point, you can use a fan brush with your ink pads to create some trees in the distance. Next, use your fan brush to lightly pounce layers of fall-colored trees into the foreground:
- Start with Green Gold and Phthalo Green for evergreen trees.
- Add Diarylide Yellow and Pyrrole Orange to suggest changing leaves.
- Top it off with Pyrrole Red for bold pops of color.
Use quick, upward flicking motions to suggest needles and leaves. Let layers dry as needed between colors.
Use the fan brush or stencil brush to lightly scrub in fall foliage at the base of the trees using the same warm tones from earlier. Mix a little Quin Gold and Green Gold for a realistic forest floor. You can also use a stencil brush to pounce some color as well.
Use an archival brown ink pad to blend a vignette around the bottom edge of the page to anchor the composition. Dry with a heat tool.
Finally, use your fan brush to lightly add 24K Gold Extreme Sheen acrylic paint to your trees and forest floor. Remove the painter’s tape and enjoy your artwork!
Watch the replay below!
Thank you for joining in on the creative fun. Join us LIVE every Wednesday at 5:30 pm PST on Facebook at Tracy Weinzapfel Studios.
Join the waitlist for Your Artful Journey! This is my exclusive creative membership where you can explore the world of art journaling! Join a community of support and inspiration with interactive art sessions full of tips and tricks, conversation, Q & As, and most of all, FUN!
Supply List:
- Indigo Mixed Media Journal
- Painter’s Tape
- DecoArt Matte Medium
- Decoart Media: Phthalo Green-Yellow, Green Gold, Quin Gold, Pyrrole Orange, Pyrrole Red, Diarylide Yellow
- Decoart Extreme Sheen 24k Gold
- Brushes: Tracy Weinzapfel Sets
- Ink: Ranger Archival Inks – various fall colors
- Sealer: DecoArt Duraclear (Satin)
Check out Tracy’s Art Journal Starter Kit!
Tracy’s Resources Page and visit Tracy’s Shop