Sketchy Autumn Seed Wreath

Supplies

For this project I used:

Arches Cold Pressed Watercolour Paper, bought in a full sheet and torn to size.
The paints I’ve used are suggestions – you don’t need exactly the same colours, but I’ve listed them here in case you’ve seen me use a colour and want to know what it is!
Winsor and Newton Professional Watercolour Paints in Raw Umber, Burnt Sienna, Winsor Yellow, Potter’s Pink, Quinacridone Magenta.
Daniel Smith Watercolour Paint in Moonglow, Lunar Blue and Venetian Red
Pro Arte Round Brushes, size 6
Dip Pen and Nib
Indian ink
Pencil and Eraser

These are affiliate links and if you use them you’ll get 10% off your first order and I’ll receive a small commission too.

Download the Outline

Download The Line Art For This Project

Click the button below to download the outline for this project for free. All you need to do is print it out, transfer the outline to your watercolour paper using carbon paper, pencil transfer or by using a light source like a light box. See my video on how to do this if you’re stuck!

Downloads are for personal use only. Please do not sell any work based on this artwork and please credit me if you post work online that you’ve made from following this tutorial or using this line work.

Video Tutorial on Youtube!

Step - By - Step Instructions

Draw or Trace your Pencil Outline

Find the outline you can download from above and follow this video tutorial to transfer your line drawing onto watercolour paper.

Alternatively, draw two circles, one inside the other, and fill the space between the two with simple pencil sketches of seed shapes. I’ve used acorns, pine cones, conkers, linden or lime seeds, sycamore or acer seeds and hawthorn berries. Place big items (like pine cones) in odd numbers, spaced relatively evenly around the circle. Fill in the spaces in between with leaves and then smaller seeds.

Add Detail to your Pencil Sketch

In the pine cones, conkers and any other areas you want to, add in some pencil details to give a sense of the scales on the pine cones, the seed casings and spikes on the conkers etc.

You can add as much or as little detail as you like at this point.

Sketchy Seed Outlines in Pen

I’ve used a dip pen and Indian ink to sketch over the pencil shapes I’d drawn. I’ve held my pen loosely, allowed it to skip and jump around for some loose shapes and gone over some lines more than once. I’ve filled out all the spaces, adding smaller leaves and berries anywhere there is a gap.

paint Berries in Multiple Colours

You can start painting anywhere you like, but I’ve started with the berries. I’ve given them a dab of potter’s pink, and added stronger spots of alizarin crimson and magenta while the paint is still wet. I’ve not been careful to stay within the lines, for this project, I’m very happy to make a mess!

Paint the Leaves

I’ve painted in the leaves in multiple colours too. I want them to mix on the page. The oak leaves are yellow ochre with touches of Venetian red, lunar blue and moonglow. The hawthorn leaves mix aureolin yellow and lunar blue.

Continue Painting Seeds

I’ve painted the linden or lime seeds and the acorns in shades of yellow and brown, again allowing the colours to mix on the page. The pinecones I’ve painted in water, then dropped in burnt sienna to some areas, making them darker at the base and lighter in the centre.