Acrylic Painting Step by Step: Create Incredible Landscapes
A course by Maru Godas, Illustrator
Learn to paint vibrant landscapes with acrylics and experiment with the use of color in nature
Painting with acrylics is the perfect way to transfer what you see and feel to the canvas. For visual artist Maru Godàs, it's also an opportunity to find her signature style by painting in real time on a mountainside or from the comfort of her own balcony.
In this course, begin a step by step journey with acrylic techniques for landscape painting. Work with layering to create different textures and turn your sketches into true works of art. You may also want to check out her other course: Pictorial Sketchbook with Gouache
What will you learn in this online course?
22 lessons & 30 downloads
What's included in this course?
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.
- 99% positive reviews (531)
- 16,342 students
- 22 lessons (4h 49m)
- 30 additional resources (3 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: Spanish, German, English, French, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- Spanish · English · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Indonesian · Romanian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Do an acrylic painting on canvas with nature as the central figure.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Any lovers of drawing and painting who want to use their favorite landscapes to explore further. This course is also of interest to illustrators, designers, and anyone wanting to improve their acrylic technique.
Requirements and materials
No previous experience is needed for this course, just come ready to learn and express your love of nature.
In terms of materials, you need a set of acrylic paints, a landscape cotton canvas or stretched canvas, a range of synthetic paintbrushes, a sketchbook, and a pencil and/or charcoal.
Reviews
Maru Godas
A course by Maru Godas
Maru Godàs studied graphic design at the IDEP school and at the Llotja de Barcelona. From that moment on, her career focused mainly on projects for various publishers, such as RBA, Cruïlla, Planeta, and Salvat, among others. Her true passion has always been illustration and, after discovering the Urban Sketchers collective, she took to the streets with a sketchbook in search of inspiration.
Since then, she has published several books with her work and illustrations in magazines for various big names such as La Caixa, La Vanguardia, and RACC. She currently combines her commissions with teaching, leading workshops and courses on urban sketching and illustration around the world. She enjoys sharing her discoveries with her students and, above all, encouraging them to try new things.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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Presentation
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Influences
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U2
Pure love: nature and art
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Nature as a source of inspiration
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Painting outdoors or in the studio?
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Sketch materials
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Acrylic paint: types and mediums
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Papers, fabrics, brushes and palettes
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U3
Brush, paint, action!
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Color and emotional landscapes: the Rothko charts
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There is a jungle in my brush!
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Nature textures: skies, seas and mountains 1
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Nature textures: skies, seas and mountains 2
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Nature textures: skies, seas and mountains 3
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The nature of the abstract: synthesis of color and form
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U4
En plein air: planning our work of art
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Composition and depth tricks
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Sketches, Color Studies, and Scene Creation
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U5
Painting our landscape
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Transfer to canvas: fitting and backgrounds 1
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Transfer to canvas: fitting and backgrounds 2
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Points of interest and half plane 1
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Points of interest and half plane 2
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Points of interest and half plane 3
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Close-ups, details and finishes 1
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Close-ups, details and finishes 2
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FP
Final project
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From notebook to canvas: artistic illustration
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
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Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
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Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
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Connect with a global creative community
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Watch professionally produced courses
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FAQs
You’ll learn acrylic painting techniques to create modern landscapes, from sketching outdoors to experimenting with large formats, color use, composition, textures, and recycled materials, drawing inspiration from nature and contemporary artists.
The course is aimed at an intermediate level, perfect if you already have basic drawing or painting skills and want to deepen your knowledge of acrylic techniques and stylized landscape creation.
You’ll need acrylic paints, a variety of brushes, a sketchbook or canvas, gesso, a palette, mediums, recycled materials, pencils, a brush pen, and a portable kit for outdoor painting. A detailed list is recommended and available in the course.
You’ll explore key differences: acrylics allow for durable layers and textures, vibrant colors, and quick drying, while watercolor and gouache offer transparency and soft blending. You’ll learn how to combine and adapt techniques from each.
Yes, the course includes techniques for sketching and painting landscapes directly in nature, strategies for observation, choosing suitable materials, and tackling challenges of working outside the studio.
You’ll do quick sketches, acrylic abstraction, collage, modern composition, color studies, natural textures, large-format experiments, and exercises inspired by artists like Wes Anderson, Hogni, and Basquiat.
Yes, you can start with basic materials. The course offers alternatives and tips to adapt techniques and make the most of recycled or budget-friendly supplies.
Como todos los cursos de Maru, increíble. No pinto con acrílico, pero igual aprendí un montón sobre composición, texturas, colores, de todo. Maru es súper creativa y me encanta su estilo y su forma tan sencilla y dulce de explicar todo.
Un curso en el que se muestra de forma práctica como utilizar el medio acrílico con todas sus posibilidades, recomendable.
Un curso muy hermoso.
Maru Godas is a great teacher. She's vibrant and energetic, just like her painting style. She also goes a lot more in depth than a lot of the other course, and explains the "why" behind the "what". I would definitely recommend her courses.
Un curso fantástico!