0803 Maple Valley
Jerry Yarnell School of Fine Art PBS Television Series

A peaceful countryside valley glows with vibrant fall color as a winding stream flows past a small white cottage nestled among golden fields and richly colored maple trees. In this beginner level acrylic painting lesson, Jerry guides you step-by-step through creating this warm and inviting scene in a 150 minute session on an 18x24 canvas, capturing the beauty of autumn light and atmosphere.

You’ll learn how to build a strong composition using the flowing stream with small waterfalls to lead the viewer’s eye through the landscape, while placing the cottage and trees to create balance and depth. Jerry demonstrates how to block in major shapes first, then refine them with controlled brushwork to maintain structure and clarity.

Special focus is given to painting vibrant foliage using layered color and dabbing techniques to create full, rich trees without over-detailing. You’ll also explore how to paint water movement and reflections, along with soft atmospheric backgrounds that enhance the sense of distance.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll gain confidence in painting colorful landscapes, handling light and atmosphere, and creating depth through layering and perspective. This is an excellent project for beginners looking to develop strong foundational skills while producing a bright and visually engaging autumn scene.

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