Welcome to my studio, where I'm excited to guide you through painting one of my favorite New Zealand landscapes—a stunning mountain valley on a beautiful spring day. Picture the sun glistening on a cool mountain stream with snow-capped peaks in the background. In this chapter, I'll walk you through the entire process of capturing this scene, starting with footage from my photo expedition. Back in the studio, we'll dive into designing a composition, beginning with quick thumbnail sketches in my sketchbook and progressing to a detailed pencil sketch. These sketches are invaluable references when you embark on your larger painting. Before tackling the main piece, we'll create a color study, a small yet crucial painting that helps ensure your colors, values, and tonal dynamics are spot-on. I'll guide you through mixing colors and understanding color theory in a straightforward way, making it easy to apply to your own work. Whether you're just starting out or have been painting for years, this lesson offers tips to elevate your landscape painting skills and create art that truly captures the beauty of nature.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Use a number 6 flat brush to rework the shadow areas of the mountain. Mix more ultramarine blue, quinacridone crimson, and a tiny bit of burnt sienna into your existing cloud mix. Ensure the value matches the initial blocking in stage, and model the mountain shape with loose, gestural brushwork.
Add Reflected Light
Add a tiny bit of titanium white to your shadow mix to create a subtle difference in value. Use this to indicate form and texture on the mountain face. Paint cracks using the edge of your number 6 flat brush with the shadow mix, adjusting the darkness with ultramarine blue and burnt sienna as needed.
Paint Snow in Shadow
Mix titanium white with ultramarine blue and a little quinacridone crimson for a violet-tinted snow shadow. Apply this with a number 4 short flat brush, considering the mountain's topography to depict snow on ledges and rock sides. Lighten the snow value compared to the blocking stage for added dimension.
Highlight Snow on Mount Talbot
Use a number 6 flat brush to paint snow in light on Mount Talbot. Mix ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, and quinacridone crimson with titanium white to darken the value. Allow snow shadows to blend with the highlight mix for depth, and save the lightest values for the final touches.
Pro tipUse the edge of your brush to paint cracks and fissures for added texture and detail.
Embark on your mountain valley painting journey by thoughtfully planning your composition. Nature is your muse, but not your master—use your artistic license to rearrange elements for a more compelling design. Begin with quick sketches to explore different compositions and establish a solid foundation for your painting. This preparatory work ensures that your painting will capture the essence of the scene while maintaining artistic integrity.
As you progress, focus on the interplay of light and shadow. Use a variety of pencils to sketch and define your values, and create a small color study to test your palette choices. This step is crucial for ensuring that your colors and values are effective in conveying the mood and depth of your scene. Pay attention to the harmonious use of colors, employing a limited palette to maintain cohesion and using complementary colors to enhance vibrancy.
Finally, bring your painting to life by carefully layering colors and textures. Use larger brushes to establish the foundation and smaller ones for detail work. Remember to prepare your canvas properly and use the color wheel to guide your color mixing. As you block in shadows and refine details, keep the atmospheric perspective in mind to create a sense of depth and realism. With these techniques, your mountain valley painting will be a testament to your growing skills and artistic vision.
Points to remember
Use a sketchbook to experiment with different compositions before starting your painting.
Use a 4H pencil for light marks and a 4B pencil for dark shadows to effectively plan your composition.
Create a small color study to test your painting's colors and values before committing to a larger piece.
Avoid placing the focal point in the center to maintain a dynamic composition.
Use Phthalo Green sparingly to prevent it from overpowering your color mixtures.
Begin with larger brushes to establish the painting's foundation, then use smaller brushes for detail work.
To desaturate a color, mix it with its complementary opposite on the color wheel.
Convert your reference photo to black and white to easily identify and match dark values.
