Have you ever wanted to paint a stunning mountain landscape in acrylics? Well, fear not, because learning how to paint mountains is simpler than you might think. In just four straightforward steps, you can create realistic and picturesque mountains that are suitable for all skill levels, including beginners. Whether you want to incorporate them into a larger mural or use them as standalone pieces, these mountains will add a touch of beauty to any scene.
Step 1: Sketching the Mountain Shape
To begin, you’ll need to paint the background sky using any color of your choice. Allow it to dry completely before moving on to the mountain scene. This will not only make the process easier but also ensure a more realistic and layered look. For a step-by-step tutorial on creating a breathtaking pink sunset sky, refer to the instructions below.
Step 2: Outlining the Mountain Shape
Mountains aren’t mere straight angular triangles. Instead, they possess jagged and uneven lines that form unique peaks. To capture this natural irregularity, use a flat brush and some black paint to outline your mountain range. Keep your strokes loose and free, holding the brush towards the middle or end of the handle to achieve random and shaky lines. Once you’ve sketched the rough shape, fill it in with a base coat of black paint and let it dry.
Step 3: Adding Depth with Snow Layers
Now, take a piece of chalk or a pencil and draw squiggly vertical lines down the center of each mountain. Just like the mountain shape itself, these lines should be loose and random, avoiding any uniformity. Next, mix a small amount of black paint with white to create a very light gray shade. Using a clean and dry angled brush, apply diagonal strokes of gray paint to the right side of each squiggly line on the mountains. This dry brushing technique will provide a streaky appearance, allowing some black to show through. To add more dimension, mix a bit of Ultramarine Blue into the gray mixture and use the same technique to paint streaks of blue on the left side of each squiggly line. Remember to use diagonal strokes in the opposite direction and avoid covering all the black underneath.
Step 4: Highlights and Final Touches
To bring your mountains to life, use the dry brushing technique once again. With pure titanium white on your angled brush, add streaks of pure white at the tops of each mountain and along the squiggly lines. Apply these strokes sparingly to avoid covering the gray and black layers beneath. Additionally, mix white into the blue-gray mixture from Step 3 and use this light blue paint to create streaks on the shaded parts of the mountains. Use diagonal strokes and apply this sparingly as well, ensuring that the black and blue layers remain visible.
You can follow this four-step process to create mountain paintings of various shapes, sizes, and orientations. It’s a versatile technique that can be used for both smaller artworks and larger murals. Let your creativity soar and explore all the possibilities that this mountain painting technique has to offer.
For a detailed step-by-step tutorial on painting the pink sunset sky background and incorporating an easy tree landscape, refer to the tutorial below.
Mountain Painting Tutorial on YouTube
Find more inspiration and learn valuable techniques by watching the mountain painting tutorial on YouTube. It’s an excellent resource for refining your skills and expanding your artistic horizons.
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