Painting Acers at Westonbirt Arboretum, Plein Air

I spent a lovely morning painting the acers at Westonbirt Arboretum. The light broke through the trees and made long shadows across the path, perfect for a simple composition with one strong tree, warm foliage, and a tiny figure with a dog for scale. I kept the brushwork loose and fresh to suggest moving leaves and dappled light on the ground. This style suits plein air work where speed and simple shapes help capture the scene.

For colours, I used my usual palette. Neutral tint, burnt umber, burnt sienna, yellow ochre, viridian green, spring green, cobalt green, cerulean blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine blue, lavender, alizarin crimson, cadmium red, light red, cadmium yellow, with a touch of quinacridone gold, plus white for a few sparkly highlights. Warm reds and golds over cool greens made the acers glow, while soft wet in wet washes set the background pines back in space. A few dry brush marks suggested twigs and fence posts.

My tips for painting trees on location are simple. Squint to see big shapes. Paint the shadow shapes first and keep edges soft in the distance. Drop in warm accents at the end to bring the acers to life. Keep figures very small and loose so the trees stay the star. If this kind of scene appeals, have a look at my demos and workshops on my site.