In this chapter, I invite you to join me on a journey from location to studio, capturing the essence of Four Mile Beach alongside the talented California plein air artist, Scott Hamill. As we stand on the west coast, overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, you'll learn to embrace a more painterly and impressionistic style. My homemade easel, with its unique design, allows for fluid, expressive brush strokes, encouraging a loose and dynamic approach to painting. We'll explore the coastal bluffs and ocean, focusing on the big dark shapes, distant headlands, and the interplay of light and shadow. Using a 12 by 16 inch canvas with a toned surface, you'll learn to sketch with a thinned-down mixture of gold ochre and cad red medium, positioning your focal point thoughtfully with the rule of thirds in mind. This scene is a rewarding subject, offering a rich tapestry of lines, shapes, and perspectives that guide the viewer's eye. By the end of this lesson, you'll have a deeper understanding of composition, brushwork, and the joy of capturing the beauty of the natural world in a loose, expressive manner.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Select a clean brush for the light areas of the sandstone. Mix gold ochre with white for a lit rock effect, adding a touch of cad red. If the color is too pure, introduce some blue to gray it down slightly.
Apply Light to Sandstone
Use a thin brush stroke to test the light and dark relationship on the sandstone. Pull the brush stroke across in the direction of the light, from right to left. Add a few light strokes to indicate moss and light, ensuring not to overdo it.
Create Light on the Sand
Apply a big, gooey brush stroke to the sand in the foreground. Experiment with your brush by letting it twirl and spin, creating various strokes. Capture the effect of wet sand reflecting the sky, noting that wet sand is darker than the sky.
Soften Edges and Shadows
Soften the edges between wet and dry sand, as well as the shadow edges. Create a more interesting shape by curving the shadow line. Ensure the shadow has a soft edge as it moves away from the object casting it.
Re-establish Darks and Define Shapes
Squeeze out fresh gold ochre if needed, avoiding polluted paint. Mix colors to work on the foreground rocks in shadow, incorporating warmer and cooler tones. Step back frequently to assess value and design issues.
Paint Foreground Foam and Light
Mix a warm white with cad yellow pale for the lightest light in the scene. Apply with a loose grip and a lot of paint, wiping the brush clean to avoid dark contamination. Use varied directions and pressure to suggest foam and water movement.
Pro tipWipe your brush clean after each stroke to prevent dark colors from contaminating the light areas.
Embark on your painting journey by carefully observing the scene and identifying key elements such as the big dark shapes, distant headland, and cast shadows. Begin with a loose sketch on a toned canvas, ensuring your focal point aligns with the rule of thirds for a dynamic composition. As you block in shapes, focus on variety and avoid repetitive patterns to keep the viewer's eye engaged.
Progress through your painting by applying dark tones first, gradually moving to lighter ones. Use a mix of ultramarine blue and permanent rose to establish shadow shapes, and experiment with brush grips to find your preferred style. Introduce temperature shifts by alternating between cooler and warmer tones, adding depth and interest to your work. Incorporate atmospheric perspective by cooling and lightening colors as they recede into the distance.
As you refine your painting, focus on creating form with temperature shifts and apply color thoughtfully to capture the essence of the ocean, sand, and rocks. Use varied brush strokes and pressure to add texture and interest, especially in the foreground. Soften edges to create a cohesive look and adjust colors to enhance the light effect. In the final stages, add highlights and refine details to bring your painting to life, ensuring a balanced and harmonious composition.
Points to remember
Place the focal point at one of the intersections of the rule of thirds.
Squint at the scene to better see shifts in temperature and adjust your colors accordingly.
Cool and lighten colors as they recede into the distance to create depth using atmospheric perspective.
Cover the canvas fully to make accurate value comparisons between different shapes.
Use cooler and lighter colors to suggest form in shadowed areas influenced by the sky.
Use a small hole in your finger to isolate and better understand the colors in the scene.
Wipe your brush clean after each stroke to prevent dark colors from contaminating the light areas.
Always clean your brush when touching different areas to maintain color purity and avoid muddying your work.
