As we embark on this painting journey together, I'm excited to guide you through capturing the majestic beauty of Mount Earnslaw, a stunning alpine scene from New Zealand. With a 12 by 24 inch Fredericks ultra smooth canvas secured, we'll dive into the process using M. Graham oils and a selection of Rosemary & Co long flats, synthetics, and bristles from my painting brush set. To enhance the flow of our paint, I'll incorporate walnut oil as our medium. This chapter will teach you how to create dynamic movements of light and depth, achieve soft-edged brushwork, and add sparkling impasto highlights that bring the scene to life. We'll focus on good design, accurate drawing, and passionate brushwork, employing a variety of enjoyable techniques. Starting with sketching the horizon line, you'll learn to arrange the big shapes that form the main elements of your composition, ensuring a harmonious balance with additional details like trees. Whether you're using oils or acrylics, this lesson promises to be a rewarding exploration of both technique and creativity.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
Avoid using your brush in only one direction. Aim for one large field of snow with smaller supporting pieces to create a family of shapes. This approach will make the snow appear more impressive.
Identify Lightest Snow Spot
Locate the lightest spot on the mountain where you used the most yellow and white with the least blue. This area should stand out as a bright chunk of snow.
Mix Sky Color
Prepare a sky color by mixing white with a tiny bit of phthalo blue and a speck of yellow. Be cautious with phthalo blue as it is very potent.
Sculpt Mountain Edges
As you paint the mountains in the background, pay attention to the edges you create. Vary between soft and hard edges to avoid a paper cutout appearance, which is not suitable for mountains.
Be Inspired by the Scene
Use the scene as inspiration rather than a strict guide. Focus on understanding the shapes and structures that convey the essence of a mountain.
Pro tipVary the edges of the mountains to avoid a paper cutout look.
Embark on your painting journey by establishing a strong foundation with a well-thought-out composition. Begin with a clear horizon line and sketch the major shapes that will define your scene. As you block in the mountains, focus on capturing the essence of their forms with broad strokes, leaving the finer details for later. This approach allows you to build a cohesive and balanced landscape.
As you progress, pay attention to the interplay of light and shadow to create depth and realism. Use a variety of colors to depict atmospheric perspective, and carefully layer your paints to capture the subtle nuances of reflected light and snow. Remember to keep your brush clean and your colors pure, especially when working on snow and highlights, to maintain the vibrancy and clarity of your painting.
In the final stages, integrate foreground and background elements seamlessly, using soft transitions and varied edges to enhance the natural look of your scene. Add the finishing touches with careful attention to detail in foliage, water reflections, and rock textures. These final accents will bring your landscape to life, capturing the majestic beauty of Mount Earnslaw.
Points to remember
Start with the horizon line to anchor your composition.
Focus on blocking in big shapes first; details can be refined later.
Use a color very close to the sky for distant mountains to create atmospheric perspective.
Use a clean brush for snow to avoid contaminating the white with underlying dark colors.
Vary the edges of the mountains to avoid a paper cutout look.
Avoid diagonal brush strokes in the water reflections to prevent the appearance of a tilted water plane.
Use soft edges to depict willow trees, creating a natural transition in the foliage.
Avoid over-mixing colors to allow for natural variations and happy accidents in your painting.
