In this chapter, I invite you to join me on a virtual walk to Glenorchy, a charming village nestled at the edge of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island of New Zealand. This picturesque spot, located near the popular tourist destination of Queenstown, offers a stunning landscape that is perfect for painting. As we explore this beautiful area, you'll learn to capture the essence of its light-filled scenery in an impressionistic style. We'll focus on the theme of looking through trees to the landscape beyond, a common motif in Glenorchy paintings that adds depth and interest to your work. Using large brushes and generous amounts of paint, I'll guide you step by step through the process of designing an inviting scene and painting with freedom. This lesson is all about embracing the joy of painting outdoors and discovering techniques that bring your canvas to life. Whether you're stuck indoors or simply yearning for a creative escape, this chapter offers a rewarding subject that will enrich your painting journey.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Mix a very dark green using blue, red, and yellow ochre. Apply this mixture to the canvas, focusing on the darkest areas. Aim for variety in the color even within the darks to add interest.
Create Color Transitions
While maintaining the same value, introduce subtle transitions in color and hue. Mix directly on the canvas to achieve more dynamic brushwork and unexpected results.
Add Blue-Grey Shadows
Mix a blue-grey and use it to paint shadows across the path, considering the light source direction. Indicate the start of tree shapes, ensuring they don't divide the space equally or sit right on the edge of the painting.
Paint Purple-Grey Background
Switch to a new brush and mix a purple-grey for the background. Lighten it slightly if needed, and apply it thinly to avoid issues when painting over it later. This will form the base for sky holes through the trees.
Lighten Mountain Tops
As you paint the mountains, lighten the color towards the tops to reflect their distance. This adds variety and depth to the scene. Use the same color to start reflections in a pool of water.
Pro tipMix directly on the canvas to achieve more dynamic brushwork and unexpected results.
Embark on your painting journey by thoughtfully composing your scene, drawing inspiration from natural elements like trees and streams to create depth and interest. As you paint, pay attention to the interplay of edges and contrasts, using soft edges to blend elements seamlessly into the background and sharp edges to highlight focal points. Balance warm and cool tones to enhance the vibrancy and depth of your landscape.
Embrace the challenge of painting with time constraints to capture the essence of your scene with dynamic brushwork. Use large brushes to cover your canvas quickly, and don't shy away from vigorous paint application to infuse energy into your work. As you progress, consider the role of trees as natural frames and exaggerate contrasts to create a visually engaging composition.
Refine your painting by adjusting color saturation and intensity to compensate for camera limitations, ensuring your colors remain vibrant yet true to the scene. Pay close attention to the design and placement of elements, using shadows and varied shapes to guide the viewer's eye and maintain interest. Finally, soften any distracting edges and ensure your painting's composition remains dynamic and inviting.
Points to remember
Incorporate trees and natural elements to create depth and interest.
Use soft edges to blend elements into the background.
Set a time limit to encourage quick, expressive brushwork.
Exaggerate warm and cool contrasts to enhance visual dynamics.
Enhance color saturation to compensate for camera limitations.
Find your personal threshold for color intensity to avoid an overwhelming effect.
Vary the heights and widths of shapes to add interest to your painting.
Use a zigzag swish technique to maintain soft, clean edges.
