Autumn in the mountains

10 November 2026

Step-by-Step - Level ◆◆◆

A couple of weeks ago I sketched an old barn near the Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park in the Pyrenees, not far from where I live. It was an absolutely glorious day: the colours were intense, the sky was a clear, deep blue, and it was warm in the sun, a perfect day for sketching. In fact, in the reference photo, you can see my sketchbook lying in the sun drying between painting stages.

When I’d finished my sketch, I got out my big camera and took some photos, because I knew I wanted to redo this as a studio painting and turn it into a step-by-step lesson for you. I'm glad I did, because this was such a joy to paint and I really like how this studio version turned out.

In our