Painterly Acrylic Rural Landscape Tutorial

This painterly rural landscape was all about variety—color, brushwork, and texture. I started by toning the paper with a brick-red acrylic mix of cad red, yellow ochre, and white to warm up the surface and give the land a soft glow beneath the layers.

The sky came next, built with creamy blues and warm grays using cobalt, Jenkins green, and titanium white. I kept it abstract, softening edges with a napkin and letting the brush marks show. That broken texture gives the painting energy and movement.

For the land, I worked in subtle color shifts—yellows against ochres, greens against earthy browns. Each area changes slightly so nothing feels flat. A few darker greens and brick reds define the tree line and distant fields.

The key is to think painterly—embrace broken edges, unexpected color, and the illusion of detail. You’re not painting every blade of grass; you’re suggesting light, distance, and atmosphere through variety. That’s what makes this rural acrylic landscape feel alive and expressive.

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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.