Autumn has always been my favorite time of year as an artist. The entire world becomes a painting – trees glowing with carmine, crimson, and golden yellows against moody gray skies.

It’s a season of transformation, and for me, that transformation becomes the perfect inspiration for acrylic pouring!

When I step into the studio, I don’t just want to copy the colors outside my window. I want to translate the feeling – that cozy energy, the sense of movement, and the way light shifts as days grow shorter.

This painting, The Dancing Fall Foliage Tree, was born from that exact inspiration:

And here’s something crucial: all the colors in this painting were mixed using the pouring recipe I teach inside my Fluid Art Mastery course.

That recipe is what makes them both vibrant and easy to work with. It keeps fluid paints flowing smoothly for techniques like blowouts, prevents muddiness, and ensures the colors dry beautifully. Without this foundation, those fiery autumn gradients wouldn’t look nearly as rich or cohesive.

Tips for Using Fall Palettes in Fluid Art

• Anchor bold colors with neutrals. Reds, oranges, and yellows are stunning but can easily overpower a painting. Balance them with grounding tones like deep charcoal, warm browns, muted olives, or even a soft custom gray. 
• Let gradients mimic nature. Autumn trees rarely change color all at once. Instead, leaves flow from green into yellow, orange, and finally deep red. Try layering your paints in this same order when pouring to create natural transitions that feel alive.
• Use metallics for seasonal glow. Copper, bronze, and gold aren’t just pretty – they catch the light in a way that instantly evokes fall’s warmth. A few metallic accents can transform a flat area of color into something rich and dimensional.
• Play with direction and movement. Autumn isn’t still – it’s windy, shifting, alive. In this painting, I used blowouts and finger swipes to create wispy, airy lines that give the tree its dancing feel. Don’t be afraid to tilt or refine once the base pour is down; editing is part of the process.
• Balance vibrancy with shadow. Just as golden leaves pop most against a dark tree trunk, your warm hues will feel more powerful when paired with deeper tones. Try phthalo green, indigo, or even touches of black to give depth and anchor the light.

Here’s the final painting, full of that vibrant autumn energy:

Let Autumn Guide Your Next Pour

This is why I love painting in the fall. It’s a reminder that art has room for both boldness and subtlety, fiery energy and grounding calm.

I’d love to invite you to take this inspiration into your own studio. Whether you paint a tree with swirling foliage, a flow of warm seasonal colors, or a completely abstract design inspired by autumn’s spirit – let the season guide your hand! 

And please, let me know what you think about my Dancing Tree in the comment section on YouTube :)

Colorfully yours,
Olga Soby