Welcome to the enchanting Glen Orkey, nestled in the Dark River Valley, where the old mill house stands as a testament to time. Today, I have the pleasure of painting this captivating scene, complete with an old truck partially buried in gravel and grass, under the warm embrace of the sun. This setting offers a rich tapestry of textures and colors, making it an ideal subject for our painting journey. I am thrilled to be here with John Crump, a renowned painter whose expertise has been invaluable during my stay. Using all of John's equipment, from his fine Belgian linen canvas to his palette of colors and brushes, I aim to immerse myself in his painting technique. This chapter captures my learning experience, as John guides me with insightful feedback, helping me refine my skills. As we explore this scene together, you'll discover how to adapt and enhance a landscape to create a compelling composition. Let's embark on this creative adventure and see what we can achieve under the brilliant Glen Orkey sun.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Introduce a little bit of gold ochre to the tree area. This color is more powerful than yellow ochre and will help lighten the area slightly. Use a big brush with lots of paint to quickly cover the area.
Work Around Tree Trunks
Consider the placement of dark tree trunks and work around them. Leave space for the trunks to maintain their presence in the composition.
Illuminate the Building
Apply gold ochre to the building to enhance the light effect on its side. Avoid using white initially to keep the chroma or saturation high, allowing the shadows to glow.
Adjust with White
Add a little bit of white to the mix if the glow is too intense. Remember, adding white will lighten and desaturate the color, pushing it towards grey.
Modulate Shadow Colors
Keep the shadow areas thin and patchy with various colors. Modulate the color by making it slightly warmer or cooler, maintaining the same value. This will add depth and interest to the shadows.
Pro tipAvoid using white initially to keep the chroma or saturation high, allowing the shadows to glow.
Embark on your painting journey with the Old Mill House by first preparing your materials. Use Liquin medium to ensure smooth paint application and sketch your composition lightly, focusing on the perspective and placement of your main subjects. As you lay down the initial lines, remember to keep them thin to avoid interference with subsequent layers.
As you progress, emphasize the focal points of your painting, such as the house and the truck, by reducing detail in the background. Carefully plan your composition, ensuring elements like the truck stand out through strategic use of light and shadow. Simplify your scene by avoiding central placement of major lines and maintaining a balance between light and dark areas.
Finish your painting by refining colors and adding details. Use high-quality paints for vibrant hues and consider the effects of reflected light to enhance realism. Prepare your canvas to avoid stark white areas, and use soft edges in the background to keep the focus on your main subjects. Learn from other artists and continuously refine your technique to grow as a painter.
Points to remember
Always dip your brush into Liquin before adding paint for smooth application.
Keep your initial sketch very thin to avoid it showing through final layers.
Emphasize main subjects by keeping background elements subdued.
Ensure overlapping shapes bring the truck forward in the composition.
Avoid placing major construction lines in the center to maintain balance.
Use soft edges for shadows in areas with less direct light.
Invest in high-quality cadmium colors for vibrant and strong hues.
Prepare your canvas by staining it to eliminate the white surface.
