When you grow up in the 2nd flattest state in the Union, mountains, even paintings of them can be pretty exciting. One of the final touches in our recent dark blue bedroom office update was this DIY Simple Mountain Painting on canvas. Now, I’m no Picasso, so thankfully, there are several mountain art tutorials out and about the web.
I found gorgeous inspiration and gained beneficial tips from this children’s bedroom mountain mural tutorial and this monochromatic mountain range on canvas.
I’m just going to jump right in and show you the process I used. (Note: You can find printable instructions toward the bottom of this post.)
This project was so much fun, and therapeutic! You know, that becoming one with nature feeling while you paint.
I was telling my cousin about it and now she wants to make one. So, hey… I might even have a painting party.
Related: Neutral Toned Mountain Mural Video
Okay, here we go.
Step one) Basecoat the Canvas
Paint a base coat on the canvas with white, off-white, or any light, neutral color of your choice.
Step two) Select Paint Colors
Choose 3 – 5 paint colors for your mountain painting, ranging from dark to light. Decide if you’d like to go with a monochromatic or complementary color scheme. I choose to use paint colors complementary to the color I have on the wall (SW Cyberspace).
I used the paint colors: SW Cyberspace, SW Cyberspace lightened with SW Incredible White, SW Blustery Blue, SW Dovetail, SW Whole Wheat, Artminds Pewter, and Artminds Pewter lightened with SW Agreeable Gray, SW Dovetail lightened with SW Convivial Yellow.
Alternatively, you can choose one or two dark paint colors and then lighten each layer with neutral gray or white paint. Adding more of the lighter paint color as you move upward or further back in the mountain range.
Step three) Pre-Design Your Painting on Paper
Cut a piece of 8-½ x 11 to scale to match the canvas size.
Using a pencil, draw out the mountain range on the piece of paper until you like its look. Yes, erase the lines until you get what looks like a mountain range to you.
Tip: Do an online search of mountain ranges, mountain drawings, or DIY mountain art for inspiration.
Step four) Number the Paint Colors
Give each paint color a number. Place those numbers per section on your paper drawing.
Step five) Copy the Mountain Range Design Onto the Canvas.
Next, using a pencil, re-draw the design onto the canvas and then copy the paint color numbers onto the canvas.
Step six) Paint the Mountain Range Onto the Canvas
Using a thin paintbrush, outline a section with paint. Then fill it in.
Step seven) Alternate Paint Sections
Move to another section that is not touching the area you just did, and repeat. This step will allow the first section to dry.
Step eight) Repeat
Continue painting until you’ve filled in all areas.
There you go. You’ve created your very own simple mountain painting on canvas.
I like how mine turned out, unrealistic blue mountains and all. However, if I didn’t, I could have painted a new basecoat over the whole thing and started again. After all, isn’t that what Picasso used to do?
Grab the PRINTABLE instructions below—->
How to Make A Simple Mountain Painting On Canvas
Create your own DIY mountain landscape by following these step-by-step instructions. Choose your own color scheme and canvas size. Draw your own mountain design. A nature-inspired project for everyone!
Print the instructions below.
Materials
- Blank art canvas
- Several paint colors of your choice
- Medium-sized craft brushes
- Pencil
- 8-1/2" x 11" Sheet of paper
Tools
- No tools required.
Instructions
- Apply a basecoat of white or neutral gray. Allow drying.
- Choose several paint colors ranging from dark to light. Try for a complementary or monochromatic color scheme.
- Sketch out a mountain range design on 8-1/2" x 11" paper.
- Number the paint colors and place a number in each section on the paper drawing as per your liking.
- Use a pencil to re-draw the simple mountain design on the canvas, and then copy the coordinating paint color numbers onto the mountain sections.
- Use the craft brush to outline a corresponding numbered segment and then fill it in with the paint.
- Move on to another section that isn't touching the first. This will allow each area to dry in the meantime.
- Continue to paint each section until complete.
Notes
- Cover a tabletop with a drop cloth to keep paint drips to a minimum.
- Allow the paint to dry before painting next to a section.
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