Learn how to paint a misty autumnal scene on the river Stour with Chris Forsey.

DEMONSTRATION: Mist Through Teasels and Willowherb, The Stour

STAGE ONE

Paint a pale, thin, uneven wash in gold and magenta acrylic paint to create the key warm mood colour.

STAGE TWO

When the wash is dry, quickly paint the key shapes, all at the same time, using mixes of all three colours. Paint directly on to the support, without a pencil drawing.

STAGE THREE

When dry, mix a semi-opaque pale grey-blue from magenta and indigo and scumble in the background mist to create vague shapes and distance, and also the rising mist from the river. While this is drying, paint the sky with white and a touch of gold, negatively painting round the main tree shape and describing other vague tree shapes

FINISHED PAINTING

Mist Through Teasels and Willowherb, The Stour, water-based mixed media, (30.5x30.5cm)

Add soft flaring of the light through the sky holes using white and gold and added tiny points of sparkly light on the water surface. Finally add teasel and riverside flora, keeping it very simple, using small dashes and splattered magenta acrylic, ink and oil pastel, trying to keep the loose, impressionistic approach and mood of the scene