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 yellow ochre with titanium white, cadmium yellow, a touch of alizarin crimson, and a small amount of ultramarine blue. Apply this pale mix to the grassy areas to create lighter layers. The alizarin crimson and ultramarine blue help desaturate the color, enhancing the natural look.
Paint Green Grass by the Riverbank
Use the same green mix as for the willow trees to paint the grass by the riverbank. Blend it with the straw-colored yellow to maintain color harmony across the painting. This consistency in color will make the painting more visually pleasing.
Add Shadows and Reflections
Utilize the tree shadow mix to paint shadows on the grass and riverbank. Use the same brush from the willow trees to save on cleanup. Paint shadows and reflections in the water using a mix of yellow ochre and ultramarine blue, adding depth and tidying up edges.
Create Subtle Reflections
For reflections of the riverbank grass, use yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, a little titanium white, and burnt sienna. Make these reflections paler than the actual grass. Use the greens from the tree mid-tones for the willow tree reflections to add depth and complexity to the water.
Pro tipUse the same colors across different zones of the painting to achieve color harmony and a more cohesive look.
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.
