Painting AUTUMN FORESTS with gouache ✶ Full study process

[@LovinLnCottage]

Sarah, dear, you present us with an impossible choice! Each painting communicates a different message! They are paragraphs in a story. Please refrain from painting to please someone else’s personal taste. Just tell us what YOU see and feel in your paintings and equally wonderful photographs. I get overwhelmed by the beauty of nature, too. I love that we share that. I can’t wait to get my kits so I can paint along with you next year (maybe by Christmas? Hope. Hope!) 🙏☮️❤️🖖

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I'm hoping too! I know manufacturing/shipping lines are busy around the holidays. At least we can plan for 2024 to be our YEAR OF GOUACHE!

[@heatherpoirier6597]

They are all beautiful, I really love #1 and #3 for different reasons. #1 has that effortless look just capturing the color and scene, #3 more detail and texture.

[@suzyg7716]

I like them all but the realistic study strikes me. That being said, the last one appears so realistic due to the colors and shapes. Love them all.

[@sarahta1984]

I love the third one where you were more playful - the choice to keep the sky bright white 100% worked as you intended it to! Thank you for sharing.

[@duffycat7021]

You have captured the darkness and the glow of the autumn forest wonderfully. I love the last picture.💚💛🤎🧡

[@amberdreams_0]

I like your expressive study best, I think partly because it is expressive but also I really like the blue greens in that one, they go so beautifully with the golden yellows.

[@c.f.callier]

The expressive colorful study at the end is the one I like the best. That glow you got with the yellow and keeping the sky white is just beautiful. I like them all but that last one makes me happy with the glowing color.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thanks! I think I’ll do it again and push the bright sun even more

[@barbaraveloz1730]

Painting 2 is SO beautiful and peaceful! Love the warmth of the lighter trees and lush greens in the last painting.

[@sujanithtottempudi2991]

You were going around forest for long time... your patience worked and see the result...superb composition... it looks like the forest was calling you to paint herself!

[@bluewren65]

Number 3 is definitely the most successful painting in conveying that gorgeous, glowing autumnal light, but, as you said, it takes a few goes to get there. Lovely video, as always.

[@MsMoniqueWilson]

Hands down for me is the last painting.. The light and colours are magical!

[@rampage2087]

The playful one is my favourite it has the essence of forest and autumn just right for me

[@lynnephelps2370]

I like them all, but the third painting looks like the way the forest made you feel when the sun came out!

[@Puddlejumpfun]

All 3 are beautiful. I think the stylized and the expressive are my favorites.

[@joycourtney]

Love all three paintings, but I think the smaller more detailed one is my favourite.

[@kellywoodhouse3046]

My favs are two and three. The gold glows in the background of number three….the brilliance is amazing. Great job .

[@terrilikens4975]

I can appreciate your overwhelm in the beauty of autumn forests. Who wouldn't want to be part of that seasonal celebration? I hope you have more sunny days, I expect the gloomier weather is "educational."

[@breamakesart4543]

All of them are beautiful, but I think my favorite is the last one. It really does capture that brightness of the sky through the forest, and the bright yellows really give the feeling of that glow you get with the really yellow leaves on trees in the fall. Nice job!

[@karenjackson5049]

I love all three, i love the brightness of the white sky in the last one. Not sure why but I think my favourite is the first one, i like the format and the slightly bluer greens i think. Very inspiring to see how you can go out and take photos and then come back to create such beautiful pieces. Thank you Sarah for sharing this 😊

[@jayblakeslee6438]

Your paintings are so beautiful, it is hard to choose, but I think the third one, where you were more "playful" is my favorite. I especially like the bright white glow you achieved by not painting the sky but leaving it white. It is a tremendous contrast to the dark foreground and the bright concentration of light on the leaves surrounded by the dark forest. I have just begun to work with gouache, which I love, and find your videos inspirational. Thank you for sharing. Kate Blakeslee 😊

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you!

[@tasticola]

The final, brighter study is my fave x Nell.

[@SunnysEyes]

I rally like the realistic one but my favorite is the super colorful one at the end. It makes me happy in my soul!

[@collinea8300]

The path in the last painting is so inviting! It makes me want to dive in the painting to take a walk on it.

[@moniquehenchey3419]

The last one is my favorite! It really captures the feeling of the forest!😊

[@jbonamo]

Love your videos! My favorite is the last painting with the brightest brights. Gorgeous... all three!

[@loriminor7253]

All beautiful but the last more expressive is my favorite.

[@ArtWench]

My favorite is the second one! Absolutely magical!

[@barbwhite6217]

I love the last painting the most. The vibrant colors are what draws me in. ❤

[@toxicdreamart9123]

I love the loose study its my favourite way of painting

[@hArtyTruffle]

I like all,of them for different reasons. Love watching them develop ✨

[@annewatson6390]

Number three, definitely. You are sharing how you feel about being in the forest with the glorious colour from the larches. Your loose relaxed styles always win hands down for me, whether it is your wonderful light watercolours or your gouache in your sketchbooks. That's what I would choose to hang on my wall.

[@nisamorin2519]

My favourite one is the last one - with bright colours. Thank you for sharing all three with us.❤ Have a peaceful sleep now (it's 11pm in Slovenia, and i'm going to bed now). 😴😴

[@TerriChannel]

Thank you, Sarah. I loved seeing the beautiful forest where you live. I can certainly understand why you are so inspired to paint there. I loved all your paintings but my favorite was the last one. Thank you again for sharing your beautiful corner of the world and your gorgeous art. p.s. - I would love it if we got that much rain where I live in Texas. Everything died or is dying from the drought where I am and it’s so heartbreaking. I feel sorry for all the trees and animals that are trying to survive.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Do you live near the desert? I imagine that is a very different color scheme and interesting in it's own way

[@elainebrenner9350]

The third one is my overall favorite.

[@nadidadsetan8326]

All three are beautiful but I love the first loose one the best. Thank you for sharing your paintings and thought process. 🙏

[@laurahale5774]

Ah Darth (Sarah), you're starting to convince me to come to the dark (opaque) side. All kidding aside, this was such a beautiful video. I was hooked in less than two minutes with the gorgeous video photography of Scotland's glorious forests. Deep exhale. Watercolor will always be my first love, but I think I'll head on over to your Craftamo video. I didn't think I would ever be interested in gouache, so that is probably the only one I haven't watched...yet. Thank you again for sharing beauty with the world.

[@afos32]

Love these paintings autumn is my favorite time of year.

[@PlayfullyPainting]

My favorite is the expressive study playful painting. I love the path trail leading through the shawdowy forest towards the golden trees illuminated by bright sky. I can really feel the transition of the season in this painting. A fun brisky walk through enchantment . The white bright sky makes me want to stay hidden in the comfort of the shadowy forest . I just totally fell in love with all of the paintings as my mind walks back not wanting to leave that forest at all.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Well said!

[@kimallen8521]

I love all 3, they each have beautiful colours. The weather has been absolutely awful here in the UK, a cosy studio is definitely the way to go 😁

[@SG-dk9gn]

I LOVE your paintings❤️😊 Each one has its own special magic, but if I were to pick one, it's the third painting for its glow. I, too, am obsessed with light, its glow, lol. 💞💞

[@barbararyan3842]

they are all amazing but I have to say I'm loving the last one best.

[@rebeccafelton5688]

Sarah, your work so shows your hard work and dedication! It is such an inspiration! Beautiful!

[@melodycrites3145]

I love thé third one for the sunlight!

[@loveandlife4222]

Beautiful!! My favorite is the realistic study. It’s so beautiful!

[@jenns_artlandia7896]

I have a forest on my land behind my house in Southern Georgia ❤🙂 im so grateful.

[@calistafesuiai218]

What lovely inspiration! Hope you will have sunny/weather friendly outdoor painting days soon. 3 is my favourite followed by a very close 2 and 1 ❤👍

[@charmcrumrine8750]

I like the small realistic painting. Thank you for your time and information.

[@a_m-wy]

I love them all but the last one is so beautiful how you captured the light , so beautiful 😍

[@ChantelleArts]

It’s so inspiring seeing how much you can learn and take in from being outside in nature ❤❤

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

It's an endless source of inspiration and education!

[@ursulajubelius6725]

Love this love trees Love your talent the last one is awesome

[@essietangle9931]

1, 2, or 3 hard choice. The one that speaks to me is number 2. I guess my mind relates to it the best. All that rain, being in western Texas I can’t really imagine. But I guess the rain brings the magic you enjoy so much.😵‍💫😁☺️

[@heidikarpa2278]

The last picture. ❤ however, I feel you needed to do all of your previous studies in order to understand your intention and learn it well. It’s after the knowing, I find, that I’m able to be loose with confidence. The ore-work does that for me. All were very good. Each one built upon the other.

[@FaithAnnNB]

It’s really hard to pick a favourite, they’re all beautiful! I do love the scene with the path. I felt the pain of your weather frustration, of course it would rain after lugging such a comfy chair for the ideal painting setup 😅. I appreciate the tips for adding depth to a painting. I often struggle with “flatness” and it’s something I’ve been working on.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I know right! If I don't take anything, it would be perfect weather and sun for hours

[@Yorky222]

Definitely, the third one is my favourite.

[@paulah317]

I give you so much credit for going out in the elements and painting. I enjoy plein air too but by this time of year the rain and snow deters me. I'm inspired by your quick studies . Seeing it all in person is worth it....I'm new to plein air and have learned so much from you thanks!

[@dmcdaniel2009]

SARAH, YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION !! ❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎

[@kathyleveck267]

All are really beautiful! I find it so relaxing to listen to you and to watch you paint.

[@dorenemargaret394]

As for me, the FIRST ONE wins.

[@laurentregenza5870]

Love the glow you captured, all the studies are really eye catching from a distance too! I love the first study and the third best - maybe the the first one if I have to choose one ❤

[@jscook54]

I like all 3 so hard to pick, but I guess maybe the smaller second one. They go together, but are really different and unique from each other. Weird how that goes. Very relaxing--for your viewers-- and enjoyable video.

[@jesswoodhere]

GORGEOUS!!! The last one is my favorite 😍

[@alicecilepin9370]

Beautiful colours! My fav would be the last, one the glowing aspect really lit up… but they all have something of the day in there!…. Great stuff! I enjoyed watching them all….. 👌x

[@sharilynnupsdell9195]

Always love your videos. It was fascinating for me to watch you paint the larches as I recently did a plein air amid the larches in my area, but still want to do more from my references. Your insights and examples will help a lot. Thanks always for sharing.

[@sarahdownton7754]

They are all so beautiful, I love the colours you use. Because of that I think I like 1 and 3 best, more blues….

[@scalemodelinc.6077]

I love the real detailed and the colorful vibrant one. Very nice, thanks for sharing, Corey

[@sharongray5198]

I love all three studies, Maybe the detailed study slightly more, but only just!

[@ellenp7455]

Hear you about the rain... It's always blue skies and sunshine when we are getting back home,too! All 3 paintings are gorgeous, cannot choose favourite one. I think they work best as a group, a triptych of sorts, because the viewer gets to see three various scenes of the forest, and it provides more of a immersive experience. Don't know if what I wrote makes sense, but that's how I feel. 😂 Amazing work! Hope Scotland will get more sunny days, so we could get more of your paintings! 🍀

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Thank you so much 😊

[@artstudiohenri]

Thanks for the great video! Tough call to say which appeals most to me as they all have different beautiful qualities. I think the last painting captures it best, distilling from imagination and knowledge how you felt about the scene 😊

[@TheKitkatt]

So fun to watch you paint!!! My fav is the smallest one.

[@22GmaRocky]

I am sorry for the rain too…after seeing what you accomplished in 5 minutes…hard telling what a stunner you would have achieved in 30 ♥️♥️ I love them all, but the 2&3 got more of your work and they show. Thank you for taking us with you guys into the forest ♥️♥️

[@sunshinemachine6572]

I am enjoying the second one! Thank you for …everything!

[@annaoram3246]

Absolutely gorgeous Sarah, they work as a beautiful set of three 👏🏼 Hope you have some dry sunny days soon 🤞🏻

[@amywedekind1171]

Hi Sarah! I really enjoyed your video…so nice to get up on a Saturday morning and have something relaxing to watch while I have my morning coffee. I love how excited you get to paint outside. I’m pretty new to art and painting, but I get it. When I’m out now, I feel like I see the world differently and I look at things and decide how I would paint it. It really does make life more interesting and I definitely appreciate the beauty of nature a lot more than before I started painting. I have never painted outside, but it is definitely something I want to try. I loved all three of your paintings, but if I had to choose, it would be the second, more realistic painting. I’m so excited to start getting your boxes next year so I can delve into gouache. I’ve never painted with it before, so I’m looking forward to the fun supplies each month and doing the tutorials. Have a great week!! ❤😊

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

Painting outside is definitely it's own challenge. When I first started going out I felt like I was relearning everything plus there are SO many distractions! So I just do my best to deeply experience the place and have a good time :) Very excited for the gouache subscription!

[@theroadhome_Liz_Summers]

Hard to choose ... for me between 1 and 3 and if I have to pick one: 3, the playful one for the different light, color and more of the path. I live on wooded property with western larch trees, and I think the same as what you are seeing, i.e. deciduous conifer. We also have Tamarack which are very similar. Where you and Wolfy were walking looks like my property. I had just started with watercolor as the larch were peaking here ... almost always close to October 14. It is Feb 1 2024 as I watched this video and am commenting. The video was so helpful ... Although the larch are now bare, we have been having morning ice fog and I have been trying to capture fog behind the trees ... close to far and struggling with trees particularly where the non-larch are dense. I have some ideas after watching the 3 options so will try more things and probably back to the video again and again.

[@TheLiznz]

Wow Sarah, I cannot chose a favourite they are all wonderful. Your talent is extraordinary.

[@glenda7921]

Number 2! Your gouache style just speaks to me. I love the soft textures, realistic light and focus on contrast and a focal point. So inspiring.

[@MirandaWatsonArt]

I do like them all and the last one is my favorite.

[@phyllissmith1105]

i love the last one the best also. But they are all beautiful. You really captured the mood.

[@JasmineZellmer]

I don't think I've ever seen a larch in person, these turned out so beautiful!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I knew of them, but never saw them up close in autumn until I moved here. I'm fascinated!

[@lilaskye2375]

favorite is small more detailed study.....thanks for demos of all

[@impala1022]

I love the second more realistic one. Im fancinated by tree bark and you did it wonderfully. That being said, all 3 were lovely and appreciated. Thanks for your videos.

[@tammylanglois2602]

I loved this and fully understand the attraction of autumn!

[@jam4441]

Love your work especially the realistic detailed one.

[@musicandart78]

number 2 and 3 are beautiful!!

[@shefru60]

Here in Oregon, we’re experiencing lots of rain. Our forests are happy. I would love to see you do a watercolor autumn study. Your first of three paintings is my favorite. But all 3 are lovely.

[@kafoster1030]

I love the amazing colors of the yellows and oranges that fade into the forest floor! Gorgeous work!!

[@susiegraham3671]

All these paintings are beautiful! Love how you captured the magical light in the forests.

[@margaretsmith51]

Thank you Sarah for sharing your forest experience, I cannot pick a favourite as I love all three for different reasons.

[@PiaNore-ue6ju]

I love the last, colourful picture ❤

[@Namaersige]

I'm drawn to your first, looser study. But the three of them are very charming! I'd love to do the same in a forest nearby, seeing your process is helpful, thanks a lot :)

[@thebirdartistscottage]

I visited Central Oregon last weekend and the Larches were just gorgeous! Their needles looked like long golden eyelashes! My husband asked me if I wanted to paint them and I felt too intimidated. Love seeing how you captured these beauties!

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

They are an interesting subject for sure!

[@gonecoastalfl]

I can TOTALLY relate to how you described your feelings while in the forest! Especially when the light streams in like that. Every time I find myself in that situation my entire brain is consumed with having to capture that by painting it. I love to photograph scenes like that but there’s an intense overwhelming urge for me to actually paint it. Something about physically painting it myself to capture it seems to deepen the experience for me. All your paintings are wonderful and I appreciate you walking us thru your thought process. Tried to pick a favorite but love them all! I do tend to gravitate towards realism tho because of that feeling of wanting to take the scene home with me exactly as I saw, it if that makes sense.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I know what you mean when you say painting it deepens your connection to the place. I love painting for that reason

[@phyllisd3705]

Thank you for sharing your forest inspiration and the layering/color mixing process. I learn so much from these types of videos.

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I'm so glad!

[@its_sylvanaa3908]

I absolutely loved the last peice! It's so colorful and fun and it really captures fall to me.

[@janemacomber3837]

I definitely like the last one the best!

[@joycestarks1594]

All of them are beautiful but I like the realistic one best.

[@natacha8350]

I like all of them but i prefere the second one, more realistic. Thanks for all your videos, i enjoy. Its inspiring and peacefull.

[@bobbiegraham7729]

All of the pictures reflect a different state of mind you had while painting. I love them all. The last one has the best glow. And it's evident that you got the painting you were looking for- I call it visible joy. Thank you so much for sharing. Question about your studio light. I got one and love it but not sure whether to have it warmer or cooler while I paint. Any hints?

[@SarahBurnsStudio]

I always try to make it as neutral as possible :)

[@JoAnneSmith-di8ok]

Beautiful! I enjoy your work. You are an inspiration.

[@mariem5990]

They are all so beautiful !!! Thank you