Autumn Tree Watercolour Scene

I LOVE this time of year!

There’s something magical about the golden light filtering through the trees, the fiery reds and oranges of the leaves, and the soft yellows blending together — all capturing that unmistakable autumn glow.

One of my favourite things to do is walk along a path surrounded by trees in every shade of autumn. It was on one of those walks that I felt inspired to create my next loose watercolour tutorial: a pathway covered in rich, vibrant autumn colours.

I couldn’t resist turning that moment into a loose, expressive watercolour class.

Below is the photo that sparked my inspiration. I let the colours and water guide my brush, using sponge effects to suggest details rather than define them. It was a quick and easy way to capture the mood and atmosphere of the scene.

Soft washes, sprinkles of salt, layered foliage, and twiggy branches helped bring this autumn scene to life on my paper. As I reflected on the process, I noticed how the colours naturally blended into one another, how edges bloomed, and how those happy little accidents reminded me that spontaneity lies at the heart of loose watercolour painting.

By embracing bold, vibrant colours, I was able to capture the warmth and glow of autumn trees lining this peaceful path.

If you’re feeling inspired to paint your own autumn path and want to dive deeper into the techniques I used — from soft washes and sponge textures to salt effects and spontaneous brushwork — I’d love for you to join me in my full video class!

Click here to take the full Autumn Path Watercolour Video Class and paint along with me step by step.