In this chapter, we embark on an exciting journey into the world of impressionistic painting, capturing the mesmerizing beauty of sunset dunes. Using a 16 by 18 inch Frederick's Ultra Smooth canvas, I guide you through the process with M. Graham oils, including a vibrant palette of phthalo blue, ultramarine blue, quinacridone magenta, cadmium red, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow light, and titanium white. With walnut oil as our medium, we'll explore how it enhances the flow of paint on the canvas. I favor a range of flat brushes, mostly natural bristles, with a few synthetic ones for finer details. These tools are essential for achieving the expressive brushwork that defines this style. Together, we'll delve into creating large movements of light, convincing depth, and the sparkling impasto highlights that bring the scene to life. By learning to alter the composition, such as removing dark elements and introducing light to harmonize the foreground with the sunset's warmth, you'll discover the joy of painting with passion and precision. This scene offers a rewarding subject, allowing you to expressively capture the serene yet dynamic interplay of light and shadow on the dunes. Whether you choose oils or acrylics, this lesson promises to enhance your skills and ignite your creative spirit.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Transition further from the shadow, softening most edges but keeping a few hard ones for variety. Edge variety is crucial for a dynamic painting.
Mix a Lighter Blue-Grey
Add more white to create a lighter blue-grey, aiming for a mid-value similar to your palette. This will help in creating depth and contrast.
Adjust Paint Consistency
If your white paint is too thick, mix in some walnut oil or another medium to make it more fluid. This ensures smooth application and easier blending.
Block in with a Big Brush
Using a big brush, block in the area with the lighter blue-grey, keeping transitions soft between light and dark shadows. Vary your brush pressure and speed to create different textures.
Add Color Variations
Introduce a little more blue and quinacridone violet to the mix. Focus on big shapes, avoiding details like grass strands for now. Aim for an intense, zingy color in the foreground.
Pro tipUse a big brush to block in large areas, keeping transitions soft and varied for a dynamic effect.
Embark on your painting journey by transforming your digital sketch into a vibrant canvas. Begin by modifying your initial sketch to harmonize cool and warm areas, creating a balanced composition. As you transition from digital to traditional painting, focus on broad strokes to establish depth and detail, enhancing the warmth of your scene with sun glow effects and local color elements like magenta ice plant flowers.
As you develop your painting, pay attention to the interplay of light and shadow. Use thin layers to build a glowing sunset effect, and adjust the horizon line to add interest and variation. Introduce vibrant colors like cadmium orange in the center to create a focal point, and carefully mix colors to maintain vibrancy and avoid muddiness. Embrace your unique brushstrokes as you work on the sky and color transitions, ensuring the central area remains pure and vibrant.
In the final stages, focus on creating depth and contrast within your landscape. Divide your painting into sections, using warm colors to highlight areas closest to the light source and cooler tones as you move away. Use impasto strokes to highlight grasses and posts, and build up shadow and light transitions slowly for an impressionistic effect. Finish by adding details and ensuring smooth transitions to convey energy and maintain a dynamic composition.
Points to remember
Introduce light into cool areas to harmonize them with warmer elements.
Use broad brushstrokes for outer edges and zoom in for detail in focal areas.
Keep the initial layer thin to make it easier to paint additional layers on top.
Introduce subtle variations in the horizon line for a dynamic landscape.
Start with a vibrant color in the center to create a focal point.
Keep your brush clean and avoid excessive dabbing to maintain vibrant colors.
Use phthalo blue sparingly, as it can quickly dominate your color mixtures.
Use impasto strokes to make highlights catch the light and add a 3D effect.
