Painting Nature with Acrylic: From Sketchbook to Canvas

Start by getting to know Maru Godàs and her work a little better. She tells you about why she ended up following the path of painting, why nature is so important to her, her main influences, as well as a few book recommendations that might help get your creative juices flowing.

Maru introduces the two main course topics. Learn to depict landscapes in your own way, see which materials to use, and explore the advantages of acrylic paints. Then, reflect on how to turn your sketches into paintings.

Brushes at the ready, it's time to explore what acrylics can do for your artwork! Play with transparency levels, do some color exercises, and learn to deconstruct and synthesize elements you find in nature.

Plan your final project, working both outside and inside using photos. Maru discusses key landscape painting concepts and gives you some tips on how to achieve depth and a correct visual reading.

Once you've chosen a sketch it's time to start working on canvas! Identify the key areas of your painting moving from the center towards the foreground. Finish up by discovering how to add the finishing touches using an opaque color palette, before seeing how to dry and varnish your final piece.