8854 Raccoons in Stump
Jerry Yarnell – Inspiration of Painting PBS Television Series

Two curious raccoons peek out from an old weathered tree stump surrounded by soft woodland foliage and warm filtered light. The contrast between the textured bark and the detailed fur creates a charming wildlife scene filled with personality and atmosphere. In this beginner level acrylic painting lesson, Jerry guides you step-by-step through creating this engaging woodland painting in a 107 minute session on an 18x24 canvas.

You’ll learn how to construct and paint the raccoons using layered brushwork to create realistic fur texture, facial markings, highlights, and shadow. Jerry demonstrates how to block in the major shapes first, then gradually refine details to build believable form and expression.

Special focus is given to painting the aged tree stump with realistic bark textures, broken wood surfaces, and natural color variation. You’ll also explore how to create soft background foliage and subtle lighting effects that help the raccoons stand out as the main focal point.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll gain confidence in painting wildlife subjects, handling texture and detail, and creating depth through light and atmosphere. This is an excellent project for beginners looking to improve their animal painting skills while producing a warm and visually captivating woodland scene.