how to paint a waterfall | Inspired By Shoshone Falls

Learn how to paint waterfalls with acrylics in this painting tutorial. Artist Ashley Krieger is traveling and painting in all 50 U.S. states. Today she takes you to Idaho to capture Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho.  I hope you learn a lot and enjoy this video as she paints plein air. 

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WANT TO PAINT waterfalls TOO!

Today let's travel to Idaho with our art and capture the states beautiful Shoshone Falls. I will teach you the steps I use to paint a waterfall. I am giving you this painting tutorial to inspire your creativity. Don't worry about using my exact colors, brushes, and brush strokes, Please! Be creative! Use these steps to help you create your very own waterfall scene.  

If you want to use the same art supplies I did, you can grab what I always have on hand here for acrylic paintings. 
This is the wonderful palette I used that keeps my paint wet for days! (Amazon affiliate link)

How to Paint a Waterfall Scene, Step by Step...

Step 1 - Sketch your composition. Outline the basic shapes you see with a flat brush and light colored paint onto your canvas. Pay attention to how big the shapes are and how close your shapes are to each other. 

Step 2 - Paint in the shapes with the undertone color, or what the main color in each shape.

Step 3 - Paint the background. Add a little (but not much) detail into your background.

Step 4 - Paint the waterfall.  Use a dry brush to paint the first layer white. Paint the direction the water flows. Add more colors on top like light blue, yellows and purples to create shadows and light bouncing off the waterfall.

Step 5 - Paint the foreground. You want to keep the waterfall your focal point so don't add too much contrast and detail into your foreground as it will distract from the waterfall. Add some more colors and give the impression of what is in the foreground like bushes and rocks.

Step 6 - Finish painting . Look back at your painting and add any details you need. Once your happy with it, your done!

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