How to Paint Fall Leaves in Watercolor

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Collect leaves from the ground

     Find a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. ,  In pencil, trace around them.
   
   Remember to draw stems, even if you have to make them up.,  Little broken sections, worm holes or edges worn or eaten away, are great to give character to the leaf.  Draw carefully, filling in the leaf shapes with the details you've discovered. ,  No need to follow exactly what you see, be creative.  This is a work of art, not a botanical sketch. ,  Add purple, yellow, red or shades of brown for variety.
   
   Sprinkle salt onto a leaf or two as soon as they begin to dry. .,  Drop these shavings onto a wet leaf to create texture.,  If shapes need linking, add an imaginary strand of ivy or a long stemmed piece of pine with red berries.
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   Step 2: or pluck some off trees and bushes.

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   Step 3: Place them on a sheet of watercolor paper and move them around until you find a pleasing composition.

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   Step 4: Take a really close look

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   Step 5: even employing a magnifying glass

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   Step 6: to see the variations in edges

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   Step 7: vein patterns

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   Step 8: color and texture.

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   Step 9: Activate your watercolor paints with water and paint the leaves various shades of green

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    Step 10: orange

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    Step 11: red and brown.

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    Step 12: Drop other colors onto a wet leaf shape on your paper.

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    Step 13: Make little specks of deeper and contrasting colors

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    Step 14: such as dark brown

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    Step 15: even black

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    Step 16: by picking at the end of a watercolor crayon with a utility knife.

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    Step 17: Step back and look at your design.

Detailed Guide

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