Acrylic Landscape Painting for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide

This step-by-step guide for acrylic landscape painting takes me back to a lesson I shared years ago — one that applies to every artist, no matter your level.

Art reminds me a lot of stock charts. There are highs, lows, peaks, and valleys. But here’s the thing: a solid company with strong fundamentals never goes to zero. The chart might dip or stall, but it always finds a baseline. That foundation is what keeps it from crashing.

That’s exactly what painting fundamentals do for your art. If you understand design, composition, and values, you’ll always have something to fall back on. Even when you’re rusty, in a funk, or pulled away from the easel, those basics steady you.

👉 That’s why this beginner landscape tutorial leans on fundamentals. They’re your baseline, your safety net, and the reason your art keeps climbing. And if you want to dig deeper, swing by the Acrylic Hub — it’s the go-to resource for building your foundation.

Materials (tightened)

Here’s what I used — but don’t sweat it if your kit looks different:

• Paints: Cad red light, alizarin crimson, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, cad yellow lemon, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, bone black, titanium white
• Brushes: Princeton Catalyst — Round #10, #6; Flats #10, #12
• Surface: 12" × 12" Bristol mixed media paper
• Other: Pencil, palette, water jar, rag

👉 My full supplies breakdown lives below, scroll down to see the complete acrylic toolkit guide.

Step 1: Tone the Paper

Lay down an orange wash to set a warm foundation. It balances dark values later and keeps the painting from looking flat.

Step 2: Add the Drawing

Sketch the horizon and big shapes using a flat brush or pencil. Start big-to-small. Horizon → hills → trees → path.

Step 3: Block the Clouds

Lay in a dark gray mass for the big clouds. Use warm whites for the horizon clouds. Keep paint clean, crisp, and don’t overwork.

Step 4: Ground Plane

Start light in the distance (lime green), go darker as you move forward. Let bits of orange underpainting show through for harmony.

Step 5: Big Cloud Mass

Block it again, this time with a warm gray. Keep mixing enough paint to avoid mid-process shortages.

Step 6: Hills + Trees

Mix bone black + yellow ochre for darks. Add trees on both sides to balance weight across the composition.

Step 7: Foreground Path + Details

Redefine the path with short strokes and dots. Thin, not overpowering. Add highlights to keep the eye moving.

Step 8: Mid-Tones + Texture

Introduce patches of mid-tone color for dirt, rocks, or breaks in grass. Don’t overdo it — subtle is better.

Wrap-Up (bring story back)

Like a good stock, your art has a baseline. The fundamentals you practice today — composition, values, design — are what keep your landscapes steady even when you feel like you’re slipping.

Every brushstroke you lay now is an investment. Over time, those “shares” of practice stack up and your art portfolio grows.

👉 So keep painting, keep learning, and trust your baseline.

Learn & Improve Your Acrylic Skills

• Acrylic Hub– Your go-to guide for tutorials, tips, and resources.
• Ultimate Beginner Acrylic Course - Start painting with confidence.
• Subscribe for More Great Content - Get tutorials, tips, and updates straight to your inbox.
• Follow Me on Pinterest - Daily inspiration, tips, and fresh ideas.

Recommended Acrylic Painting Materials

• Princeton Catalyst Brushes – Flats (#6, #12), Rounds (#4, #8), Fan (#4), Liner Brush
  Durable synthetic bristles for versatile acrylic techniques
• Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint – Essential Colors
  Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White
• Winsor & Newton Cotton Canvas
  Reliable stretched canvas for studio and plein air work
• Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Paper
  Heavyweight, acid-free paper for acrylic and mixed media
• Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press Paper
  Excellent for acrylic, mixed media, and textured effects
• Blick Multi-Colored Painting Knife Set
  Variety of shapes for texture, scraping, and bold strokes
• Miscellaneous: Two pint-sized water containers, paper towels (from Home Depot or Walmart)
• Note: I use canvas or sturdy cardboard as my palette — no store-bought palettes needed.