In this chapter, we'll explore the serene beauty of a summer landscape featuring graceful willow trees and a shimmering river under the bright sun. The scene is set with a simple yet effective composition, utilizing an S-shaped curve that guides the eye through the painting, suggesting rhythm and flow. This approach often results in the most compelling landscapes, as it avoids unnecessary complexity. The willow trees stand as a focal point, embodying the essence of summer with their lush foliage. The distant mountains, rendered in lighter tonal values, add an element of grandeur and atmospheric depth, enhancing the illusion of height. Throughout this lesson, I'll guide you in mixing vibrant greens and capturing the play of sunlight on water, all while infusing art theory into our practice. By the end, you'll not only recreate this tranquil scene but also gain techniques applicable to your own artistic endeavors. Whether you choose oil or acrylic paints, this project promises to be both rewarding and enlightening, offering a perfect blend of challenge and enjoyment for 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 pale, low chroma blue using your sky mix with added titanium white, ultramarine blue, a touch of alizarin crimson, and burnt sienna to desaturate. Apply this mix to the right side of the painting to reflect the clouds and sky above. This creates a simplified base that will make the water look more detailed later.
Add Ripple Suggestions
Use a number three filbert brush to paint the suggestion of ripples in the water. Increase the saturation and darken the value by adding more ultramarine blue to your mix. Focus on creating a good solid foundation without worrying too much about detail at this stage.
Define Water Zones
Identify two major zones in the water: the stiller area reflecting the background landscape and the more turbulent area reflecting the sky. Paint the transition zone between these areas by thinking of ripples as little hills, with darker shadow areas and lighter areas reflecting the sky.
Fill in Midground Gaps
Use your blue mix to fill in gaps in the midground, avoiding the burnt-out look from the reference photo. Keep the water simplified and prepare a base for adding more details once it's dry.
Pro tipUse ultramarine blue and burnt sienna to create beautiful neutral greys, perfect for painting shadows and reflections in water.
Embark on your painting journey by preparing a stable canvas and selecting your preferred medium. Whether you choose oil or acrylic, ensure your surface is ready for the vibrant colors of a summer landscape. Begin by sketching your composition with a burnt sienna base, setting the stage for a harmonious palette that will bring your scene to life.
As you progress, focus on establishing values and shadows, using ultramarine blue to unify the elements of your painting. Build depth by varying the value scale between foreground and background, and mix colors thoughtfully to achieve natural tones. The key is to maintain color harmony across different zones, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing result.
In the final stages, refine your painting by blending colors smoothly and adjusting values to enhance depth and contrast. Gradually build up lighter layers to add dimension, and restate shadows to bring out the three-dimensional form of your landscape. Remember to save the lightest highlights for the end, allowing your painting to truly come alive with the brilliance of summer sunlight.
Points to remember
Use a manageable canvas size of around 12x12 inches.
Employ a limited palette to maintain color harmony.
Identify and paint dark values first to establish depth.
Use ultramarine blue consistently for cohesion.
Apply the full value scale in the foreground for contrast.
Mix shadow colors with less titanium white for depth.
