Nature Painting Tutorials in Watercolor & Oil

Q: Should I Start with Oil, Alkyd, Watercolor, or Acrylic Paint?

Oil is the classic, historical paint. It gives the artist time to blend and work the paint before it dries. Alkyd is the modern oil paint that dries much faster with the same beauty and richness as oils. Watercolor is often used for light, intricate works. Once their techniques are learned they make wonderful paintings. Acrylic paint is fast drying and popular with beginning artists. Compare the four popular paints by, best colors, ease of use and expense.

Are you dreaming of how to paint nature?

Whether you're brand-new or you've painted before, you'll find 30+ free tutorials here of butterflies, hummingbirds, waves, waterfalls, and more. Plus, the fundamentals for creating believable nature artwork.

Not sure where to begin? If you’re brand-new, start with Step 1. If you’re ready to learn and practice, follow Step 2.

If you have some experience, jump straight to the Step-by-Step Tutorials section to pick your next project.

Learn how to paint at ArtbyCarolMay.com.

Go from your first brush to a finished painting.

Art by Carol May is your comprehensive resource for learning to paint at home.

I’ll show you how to choose your materials, understand the fundamentals, and follow simple, step-by-step projects so you can create artwork you’re proud of.

Not Sure Where to Start? Choose Your Path

Choose your starting point - brand-new, ready to learn, or ready for a full project.

Learn how to get into painting with a budget supply checklist.

Step 1: Get Ready

Select a medium and basic supplies.

Pick your medium (watercolor or oil), get your simple budget-friendly starter supply list, ideas of what to paint, and get set up to begin painting nature.

#1 Get into Painting

Step 2: Start Learning

Learn how to paint art for beginners.

Follow the beginner path: an intro to values, composition, focal point, and color with quick-start practice - then choose a first beginner-friendly nature painting.

#2 Learn How to Paint

Painting Tutorials

Explore the library for your next project.

Already have some experience? Choose a nature subject and follow a step-by-step tutorial with photos and detailed instructions for (watercolor or oils).

Browse All Tutorials

Paint Better Nature Art

Great nature paintings are built on a few core fundamentals. Learn them to improve every piece you create.

How to Paint Good Art

Start with the 3 points I often use to check my paintings for the core fundamentals (value, color, composition, and a focal point).

The page includes "Quick Start" practice exercises (5-15 minutes).

Visit the Page

How to use the fundamentals to paint good art.

Get tips on using the fundamentals.

When you want to strengthen your skills by learning in-depth techniques - go to the individual fundamental pages.

Professional tips on creating a composition for a painting.

Composition in Art

Get tips for great paintings.

Values in Painting

Values create impactful artwork.

Focal Point

How to attract the viewers.

Artist Color Wheel

The ins-and-outs of color theory.

Popular color pages: How to Mix Colors and Color Schemes in Art.

In the beginning get a general understanding of the fundamentals.

Then, when you start painting the tutorials, you'll find they are seamlessly incorporated into the lessons to streamline your learning.

Step-by-Step Nature Painting Tutorials (Photos + Lessons)

Have you ever looked at a beautiful painting and thought, "I wish I could do that"? You can - the tutorials show how to paint your own beautiful art.

Painting Tutorials Library

Each tutorial takes you through a complete painting from start to finish.

Follow detailed step-by-step lessons in watercolor or oil (good for acrylic) - beginner to intermediate.

Browse All Tutorials

Find your next project.

Learn to Paint Art: Oil & Watercolor Tutorials

Painting the step-by-step tutorials is a great way to learn while you paint.

They cover everything from choosing materials to mastering fundamental skills like color mixing, composition, and painting with values.

Ready to pick up the brush? Choose your medium and follow along.

Oil Painting Tutorials

Learn about painting daisies with oil paint.

Paint a young lion step by step with oil paint.

How to paint a lion, the king of the jungle.

Paint a red rose and a multi-colored rose.

How to use oils and paint a horse and surf.

Learn Watercolor Step-by-Step

Enjoy the beautiful translucence of painting with watercolor.

Learn how to paint a giraffe in 3 different styles.

A 3-in-1: Paint a giraffe in three different styles.

Easy steps to draw and paint a Monarch.

Painting watercolor flowers step by step.

Paint three types of flowers with watercolor.

Learn watercolor techniques step by step.

Paint with an Award-winning Artist

Meet the artist and see my paintings. Learning how to paint is full of discovery, creativity, and joy!

"Country Barns"

Painting has been my passion for more than 40 years.

Learn to paint with an experienced artist.

My work has earned multiple Best of Show awards, including for “Country Barns.”

I created Art by Carol May to share the joy of painting and to help you learn with friendly, step-by-step tutorials.

Inspiration from the Studio

Get inspired by completed works in watercolor and oils, from turtles to landscapes. See what’s possible when you apply these techniques.

Browse the galleries of my finished nature paintings.

Nature is my favorite subject.

Beautiful Nature Paintings
Animals, wild and domestic
Butterflies - nature's wonders
Floral Paintings
Hummingbirds, flying jewels
Landscape Paintings
Prophetic Art from God's heart

Frequently Asked Questions

A blank canvas is waiting to come alive with your stories and creativity. A world of possibilities comes with each stroke of color.

Can I Start Painting on a Budget?

Certainly, we don't have to spend a bundle to get into painting. Basically, we need paint, a couple of brushes and something to paint on.

See the budget list of beginner painting supplies.

Should I Start with Oil, Alkyd, Watercolor, or Acrylic Paint?

Oil is the classic, historical paint. It gives the artist time to blend and work the paint before it dries.

Alkyd is the modern oil paint that dries much faster with the same beauty and richness as oils.

Watercolor is often used for light, intricate works. Once their techniques are learned they make wonderful paintings.

Acrylic paint is fast drying and popular with beginning artists.

Compare the four popular paints by, best colors, ease of use and expense.

Do We Learn with Student Paint?

It's best to learn with artist paint. It's a pleasure to use and a better buy in the long-run. It contains more color pigments that make lively, juicy colors in our paintings.

Student paint costs less because it has fewer color pigments, so it takes more paint to get good colors.

The best paint for an artist's palette.

What Should I Paint?

Paint what we see in our environment. It's easier to paint things we are familiar with, things we know.

Painting is an avenue of self-expression. That's the joy of painting!

Where can we get more ideas for painting?

How Do I Develop My Own Style?

When you start painting don't be concerned about doing any specific style.

Practice painting some of the different tutorials. As you paint, your own painting style will emerge from what you enjoy the most.

Just follow your heart and enjoy the process.

Immerse Yourself in the Joys of Painting!

Stepping into the world of painting is an enriching journey full of creativity and joy.

Get your supplies, select a subject and learn to paint with each brushstroke. The possibilities are as unlimited as your imagination!

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