Plants/Flowers

Fall Leaf

In this cozy tutorial, we’re creating a lovely fall leaf that’s just barely hanging on. Full of texture, light, and those warm autumn vibes. It’s super beginner-friendly, and we go step by step, starting with a little wiggly branch and building up to a beautifully glowing leaf scene. We keep things loose and relaxed, nothing has to be perfect! You’ll learn a bunch of fun techniques, and by the end, your canvas will be full of soft background light, glowing textures, and that final touch of fall magic.

Brushes used:

  • Studio Pen
  • Soft Brush
  • Clay Brush
  • Through the Cracks
  • Veins Brush
  • Fine Liner
  • Medium Brush

Canvas Size:

  • 2300 x 3000 pixels

Skills Learned:

  • Using clipping masks and blend modes to layer effects
    We build up soft glows, shadows, and textures without messing up our base colors, super helpful!
  • Adding natural textures with custom and native brushes
    From the crackly texture to warm edges, we use a mix of brushes to make the leaf feel real and full of character.
  • Creating soft lighting and blurred backgrounds
    With just a few colors and some blur magic, we add dreamy light and subtle depth to the background.
  • Shaping with Liquify and tidying up with the eraser
    We tweak our shapes gently and crisp up those leaf points for a more polished look, easy fixes, no stress.
  • Finishing touches with glow and bokeh effects
    A little rim light, a few floating lights, and just like that, your scene comes to life.

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