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Acrylic Painting Tutorials

Acrylic Painting – Atmospheric Perspective Demo Part 3

I wrap up the atmospheric perspective demo by refining edges, pushing light, and balancing temperature to create believable depth.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

— 2 min read
Atmospheric Perspective Demo Part 3 hero image

In this final part of the demo, I’m wrapping things up by adjusting edges, fine-tuning contrast, and pulling the whole painting together. Once the paint dries a little, I can better judge the true value range — acrylics often dry a bit darker, so I make a few tweaks to restore the light and contrast.

This lesson is part of the Acrylic Landscape Painting Fundamentals Course.

Refining the Sky and Edges

I finally jump into the sky and keep it warm and simple — just a touch of blue with soft gradation near the horizon. The trick is not to overdo the contrast between the sky and distant hills. I want just enough separation for clarity, but not so much that it kills the sense of atmosphere.

As clouds move away, their edges get sharper and easier to define; closer clouds, on the other hand, have softer, more diffused edges. The same logic applies to the hills — the farther they are, the less distinct the edges and contrast become.

Acrylic landscape painting showing atmospheric perspective with soft sky, distant hills, and warm yellow foreground light.

Adding Light and Final Touches

I mix a little yellow and push it lightly through the foreground and path, just to hint at sun hitting those planes. As it moves back, that yellow fades and picks up more gray — that’s what keeps the space believable.

Then, a few final pops of light on the trees and clouds, maybe softening a few transitions to keep it painterly and loose. It’s all about creating harmony — no harsh edges or isolated colors fighting for attention.

In the end, this piece is a simple practice in applying the rules of aerial perspective — controlling edge quality, color temperature, and contrast. Once you get comfortable with that, you can start experimenting and making it your own.

Course Navigation

Previous Lesson: Atmospheric Perspective Demo – Part 2
Next Lesson: Atmospheric Perspective Assignment
Return to Hub: Acrylic Landscape Painting Fundamentals

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