Four Seasons of the Forest

Greeting

During this lesson, we'll get acquainted, and I'll tell you what you'll learn in the course.

Materials

In this lesson, we'll get familiar with the materials you'll need for comfortable work throughout the course.

"Summer Morning Mist"

Painting duration — 1 hour 35 min

Morning mist gently envelops the trees, dissolving their silhouettes against the warm dawn sky. In this lesson, we'll learn to convey atmospheric perspective and paint weightless fog using the wet-on-wet technique.

In this lesson, we'll:

• paint the morning sky, harmoniously blending warm sunrise tones with cool blues;
• convey the creeping fog in the receding river floodplain, building proper atmospheric perspective;
• work on tree silhouettes, softening the edges and gently dissolving their bases into the wet mist;
• add the texture of dewy grass in the foreground to contrast with the weightless misty background.

"Autumn Cottage by the Lake"

Painting duration — 1 hour 20 minutes

The first snow gently blankets the golden foliage and the roof of a cottage by the lake. Autumn trees blaze brightly against the dark coniferous forest, reflecting in the mirror-like surface. We'll learn to capture this amazing transitional state of nature and the quietness of a secluded landscape.

In this lesson, we'll:

• paint a snow-covered cottage by the lake, building proper depth and making it the main light accent of the painting;
• work on autumn trees, boldly contrasting the vibrant ochre of foliage with the cool blue-green shadows of the distant forest;
• learn to paint a realistic forest reflection and convey the smooth surface of water, achieving a mirror effect without a muddy appearance;
• add the texture of falling snow to unify the space and give the artwork a special, transitional mood.

"Winter Twilight"

Painting duration — 1 hour 30 min

Frosty twilight envelops the forest, immersing it in a ringing silence. The warm light of the setting sun gently contrasts with the deep blue shadows on the snow, while a thin crescent moon appears in the sky. This landscape transports us to the atmosphere of a winter fairy tale, where absolute peace reigns.

In the lesson, we will:

• paint winter twilight, blending cold clouds wet-on-wet with a gentle sunset glow;
• master a restrained color palette and learn to mix realistic colored shadows on snow without using black paint;
• work with snow on different planes, creating voluminous caps on branches by preserving the paper and using a dry brush;
• unite the landscape with twilight lighting, painting the silhouettes of the distant forest into the frosty atmospheric perspective.

"Spring Thaw Patches"

Painting duration — 1 hour 50 min

Early spring with its melting ice and dramatic evening sky. Golden sunset light breaks through heavy clouds, reflecting in the cold water. We'll learn to capture this amazing transitional state of nature, playing with the contrast between frosty freshness and the warmth of the fading day.

In the lesson, we will:

• paint an atmospheric early spring landscape and capture the texture of melting ice;
• pay special attention to the evening sky, contrasting clouds, and sunset light;
• learn to paint realistic reflections of the shore and sky in cold water;
• establish tonal balance by harmoniously integrating the dark silhouettes of trees and the cottage into the landscape.

Closing

Our course on forest landscapes is coming to an end. It's the perfect time to pause for a moment, look back, and see how far we've already come.

In this final lesson, we'll wrap things up, revisit the most important discoveries, and talk about how to move forward. Plus, there's a little encouragement waiting for you — for new paintings, bold experiments, and future creative victories.