🍁 Japanese Maple Tree Watercolor Sketch Tutorial (Patreon)

In this lesson we’ll paint one of the most stunning symbols of autumn, a Japanese maple glowing with fiery leaves. This subject is perfect for exploring color, movement, and expression in watercolor.

Together we’ll work on:✨ How to capture the twisting, dynamic branches of the tree with liner and watercolor🍂 Techniques for creating vibrant washes that blend into glowing yellows, oranges, and reds🎨 How to balance detail and looseness to keep the sketch both expressive and harmonious🌿 How to convey atmosphere and make your autumn tree feel alive on the page

This lesson is about more than technique. It’s about celebrating the magic of autumn and letting watercolor flow freely. It’s a great opportunity to practice bold colors, expressive lines, and to add a bright, inspiring sketch to your sketchbook.

Let’s dive into the season together and paint this beautiful autumn maple! 🍂✨

🎨Here’s the palette we’ll use in this lesson (substitutes in parentheses):

Lemon Yellow PY3 [Daniel Smith]

Pyrrole Orange PO73 [Daniel Smith] (Azo Orange PO62 [M.Graham])

Nickel Azo Yellow PY150 [Daniel Smith] (Cadmium Yellow Medium)

Ultramarine PB29 [Daniel Smith]

Dioxazine Violet PV23 [Turner] (Violet PV3)

Quinacridone Red PV19 [Daniel Smith] (Carmine PV19)

May Green PG7/PY3 [White Nights]

Share your sketch:

On Instagram with the hashtag #dreamanddrawschool and tag my profile @dreamanddraw.school

In our chat 🎨Dream&Draw Club: Sketches & Homework 👉 https://www.patreon.com/dreamanddrawschool/chats (or go to Community > Chats > 🎨Dream&Draw Club: Sketches & Homework)

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Watch the preparatory lessons:

Materials video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sketching-80343147

Liner and Pencil Practice video: https://www.patreon.com/posts/liner-and-pencil-80344410

Watercolor Practice video:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/watercolor-video-80345551