The definition of miniature art is not absolute but the size limit for a miniature painting should not exceed 15x11.5cm. (including the frame).

Follow Alison Griffin's step-by-step demonstration to try your hand at a miniature landscape painting using acrylics.

Demonstration: Autumn Wood

Autumn Wood, acrylic on hardboard, 11x8cm

Step 1

Before drawing the picture on the board, paint the sky. This is because pencil lines can discolour the pale blue used.

Take a generous amount of titanium white and add only a touch of ultramarine blue. Then, using very little water, mix to a creamy consistency.

Apply quickly and evenly across the board with the ½in. flat brush down to the horizon.

Step 2

To achieve texture in the background trees, use an old Round bristle brush. Do not use water on the brush.

Take a little neat sap green and neat cadmium yellow medium onto the tip. Stipple the colour on a practice sheet (the back of an old photograph will do) until you achieve the desired colours and texture then apply to the painting.

When dry, add a little yellow ochre and black to the green to darken near the base of the trees.

Take a small amount of sap green, yellow ochre and black (again no water) and stipple to give texture to the large bush.

Take up burnt sienna and yellow cadmium deep hue with a bristle brush and stipple the ferns at the base of the trees.

Leave patches of white unpainted.

Step 3

Use a pencil to draw the larger trees onto the painted background.

Mix burnt umber and a touch of black with a little water.

Top tip

The paint should be diluted just enough for it to flow easily and still retain its colour.

Use a No. 000 brush and carefully paint the outline of the trees.

Use the No. 0 brush and fill in the trees, using a stronger mixture of the brown and black, and add a touch of yellow ochre to lighten some of the trees. Highlight with yellow ochre and white.

Paint the fine trees in the background with a thinner mixture of brown, black and yellow ochre, and dab with a clean finger to make them fade into the foliage.

Carefully paint the delicate branches with the No. 000 brush using a mix of burnt umber and black, diluted enough to flow freely but not too transparent.

Top tip

Practise painting fine lines before painting.

Paint with titanium white to make the branches and trees lighter around the sunlit tree.

Step 4

Using the flat bristle brush, pick up neat burnt sienna and drag the brush to create grasses and ferns, leaving some areas unpainted for the grass to be added.

For the grass use sap green and cadmium yellow medium, dragging the colours with a flat bristle brush, using upward strokes.

Stipple yellow ochre here and there to add interest to the ground.

With the fine No. 000 brush carefully paint some of the grasses and ferns in more detail.

Use the Round bristle brush and stipple a little burnt umber at the sides of the path.

For the rest of the path use a mixture of white with a touch of yellow ochre and burnt sienna, stippling here and there to create texture.

Using a mixture of brown and black and the No. 000 brush, add detail to the path and trees, such as the stones and sticks.

Step 5

Using the No. 2 brush, take a little sap green and black and dilute to make a transparent wash. Use this for the base of the trees to create shadows, allowing the grass to show through.

To add more warmth to the ground, add a wash of burnt sienna and cadmium yellow deep hue. Use a bristle brush for extra leaves on the trees and stipple a spiky mixture of sap green, yellow ochre and white to pull foliage forward.

Use the No. 000 brush, with cadmium yellow deep hue and burnt sienna to paint delicate leaves on the trees.

Use white with a touch of water and the fine No. 000 brush to highlight light on the trees.

Step 6

Use a pencil to draw the figure of the man and dog.

Take the No. 000 brush and, using a mix of brown and black, with enough water for the paint to flow freely, carefully paint the outline.

With a No. 2 brush, block in the coat with a thicker mixture of yellow ochre, green and black. Dab with a finger to add texture and shade to the coat.

The trousers are painted with a mix of black and burnt umber with a little white for the lighter leg. Use neat white to highlight shoulders and grey hair, and paint the boots with a mix of green, white and yellow ochre, adding a touch of black for shading.

Sam, the dog, is outlined with the No. 000 brush using a mix of brown and black then filled in with stronger black. Use titanium white for the highlights on her back, and neat white for her shoulders, tail and legs.

Shadows are a mixture of brown and black wash.

The finished painting can then be varnished and is ready to frame.

Autumn Wood, acrylic on hardboard, 11x8cm