Daisy Bay holds a special place in my heart, and I'm thrilled to share its beauty with you through this painting adventure. Nestled in Tutakaka, just over the hill from Sandy Bay, this spot is steeped in personal memories, including my first surf at nearby Woolley Bay during high school. In this chapter, we'll explore the captivating scene of Daisy Bay, capturing its essence with an impressionistic approach. You'll learn how to get the drawing right and mix colors effectively, ensuring the overall color scheme is spot-on before committing to the entire painting. We'll simplify the process to prevent feeling overwhelmed, and embrace the power of big brushes to infuse your work with a looser, more dynamic feel. Adding drama with dark and light accents will elevate your painting, and I'll guide you on critiquing your own work to foster significant improvement. As the sun sets on Daisy Bay, let's embark on this creative journey together, discovering the joy and fulfillment of painting this stunning scene.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
“Daisy Bay†Acrylic on Board by Richard Robinson.
Step 5Blocking in darks
Prepare Your Brush and Paint
Select your largest brush, such as a size 12, and dip it into walnut oil to thin the paint. Mix a dark green by combining blue, a little red, and yellow ochre. The red tones down the green towards grey. Ensure the mixture is thick enough to cover the canvas without leaving holes.
Block in Major Dark Areas
Use big, energetic strokes to block in the major dark areas of your painting. Consider toning your canvas with an acrylic wash in a warm or cool color to prevent white canvas from showing through. This can enhance the vibrancy of your colors.
Vary Your Darks
Add more yellow ochre to some areas to create variation in your darks. Mix colors slightly on the canvas to achieve interesting brushwork and suggest detail. Avoid adding too much white to your darks to prevent them from looking chalky.
Introduce Shadow Colors
Switch to a fresh brush for different shadow colors, like a purple-grey for sand shadows. Add yellow ochre to grey down the purple. Lay a thin wash of dark first, then lighten it slightly for variation.
Create Light Effects
Add a little yellow ochre and red to warm up shadows. Leave space for light effects, such as where light comes through gaps in hills. Extend paint beyond where you want it to finish and soften the edges where colors meet in shadow for a mysterious effect.
Pro tipMix colors slightly on the canvas to achieve interesting brushwork and suggest detail.
Embark on your painting journey by preparing your canvas meticulously. Sand the surface lightly to improve paint adherence and secure it tightly to a board. Set up your palette with your chosen colors and mediums, ensuring you have walnut oil and Gamsol ready for smooth application and initial sketching. With your large brushes in hand, focus on the big elements of the scene, using techniques to accurately capture angles and shapes.
As you progress, block in the darks with energetic strokes, creating variation and depth by mixing colors directly on the canvas. Paint the hill and background with gestural strokes, maintaining a natural light effect with close values. Transition smoothly into painting the water, using vertical and horizontal strokes to depict reflections and the flat surface. Add foam and reflections with a dry brush for soft edges and realism.
Finish your painting by adding details and highlights, using varied brushwork to enhance realism and character. Incorporate blossoms and final touches to bring your scene to life, and don't forget to sign your work. Reflect on your painting, considering the personal meaning of your subject to ensure a heartfelt and beautiful result.
Points to remember
Lightly sand the canvas to improve paint adherence.
Use walnut oil to help your paints flow better on the canvas.
Use different brushes for dark and light colors to minimize cleaning time.
Use your brush to transfer angles from the scene to your canvas by keeping it perpendicular and rotating your body.
Mix colors slightly on the canvas to achieve interesting brushwork and suggest detail.
Keep the values close to achieve a natural light effect across the background.
Use vertical strokes to depict reflections and horizontal strokes for the flat surface of the water.
Use varied brushwork to give each clump of foliage a unique character, enhancing the tree's realism.
