8960 The Train
Jerry Yarnell – Inspiration of Painting PBS Television Series

A powerful steam locomotive races through a peaceful mountain valley pulling bright red passenger cars beneath drifting smoke and towering evergreen forests. The dramatic contrast between the dark engine, colorful railcars, and glowing landscape creates a striking sense of motion, atmosphere, and classic railroad nostalgia. In this intermediate skill level acrylic painting lesson, Jerry guides you step-by-step through creating this exciting railway scene in a 160 minute session on an 18x24 canvas.

You’ll learn how to build a strong landscape composition using the railroad tracks, train placement, and surrounding mountain scenery to naturally guide the viewer’s eye throughout the painting. Jerry demonstrates how to block in the major forms first, then gradually refine the locomotive, railcars, and landscape details while maintaining atmospheric softness and balance.

Special focus is given to painting steam locomotives, smoke effects, metallic surfaces, evergreen forests, and distant mountain landscapes using layered color, controlled brushwork, and subtle value transitions. You’ll also explore how to create realistic movement and depth while balancing strong mechanical details with soft natural surroundings.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll gain confidence in painting trains, atmospheric smoke, and mountain scenery while learning how to combine detailed machinery with natural landscape elements into one cohesive composition. This is an excellent project for artists ready to strengthen their acrylic painting skills while producing a bold and visually engaging railroad landscape scene.