As we embark on this painting journey at Shelly Beach, you'll find yourself immersed in a process that combines the timeless charm of plein air painting with the innovative tools of digital and AI technology. We'll start by capturing the essence of the scene outdoors using gouache on a watercolor pad, a trusty companion I discovered years ago in France. This thick, 100% cotton paper is perfect for outdoor work, as it's pre-stretched and tensioned, ensuring your painting surface remains stable and warp-free. The scene itself offers a rewarding subject, with its interplay of warm light and cool shadows, inviting us to explore a simple yet expressive design. You'll learn to visualize the overall composition, focusing on the warm light filtering through where the tree meets the background hill, and using diagonal lines to draw the viewer's eye into the depth of the painting. This chapter will guide you through each step, from traditional techniques to modern digital enhancements, allowing you to choose which elements to incorporate into your own artistic practice. Let's embrace curiosity and open new doors together, as we paint our way through this beautiful landscape.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
"Shelly Beach" 12x24" Acrylic on Linen by Richard Robinson
Step 12Painting the Water and Reflections
Define the Tree Trunk
Use an orange mixture to define the tree trunk's path. Consider the trunk's thickness and how it interacts with the background. Pay attention to the geometrical and slightly square aspects of the trunk's curves.
Add Foliage and Roots
Plan the foliage and roots around the tree trunk. Use a long synthetic brush for detailed work. Think in terms of family groupings of shapes to create a natural look.
Paint the Rock Area
Mix blue and red with a bit of yellow for a dark tone. Apply this to the rock area, ensuring soft edges where shadows meet shadows. Avoid using pure black to maintain color interest.
Create Texture in Rocks
Use the brush direction to create texture in the rocks. Add a variety of soft and hard edges for a natural appearance. Introduce a warm tone to the rocks by adding red and brown.
Add Highlights and Reflections
Use a chisel, angular brush to add highlights to the rocks. Be judicious with highlights to avoid overdoing them. Introduce cooler tones to reflect the sky and add dimensionality.
Incorporate Color Variations
Mix a gray-orange base and add cool tones for color variation. Reflect cooler light on the rocks to enhance dimensionality. Adjust the green tones to maintain harmony with the warm surroundings.
Add Final Details
Add small flicks of color to indicate leaves and blossoms. Use cool reflected light for highlights in shadowed areas. Focus on creating families of shapes and brush marks for texture.
Pro tipUse the brush direction to create texture in rocks, ensuring a variety of soft and hard edges for a natural look.
Embark on your painting journey by visualizing the overall composition of your scene. Begin with a simple and expressive design that captures the essence of Shelly Beach. Focus on creating a dynamic contrast between the warm foreground rocks and the cool background, using swishy diagonal lines to guide the viewer's eye and enhance depth. Simplify the background to allow the warm light and tree to stand out, setting the stage for a captivating focal point.
As you progress, pay close attention to the interplay of light and shadow. Analyze your photo references to decide which lighting elements to emphasize, adjusting values to reflect atmospheric perspective. Position the tree trunk against a lighter background for high contrast, and use dynamic lighting shapes to highlight your center of interest. Simplify the background further to ensure the tree's branches and foliage are the stars of the show.
Finally, bring your painting to life with vibrant colors and textures. Prepare your canvas with a warm base coat and sketch your composition lightly. Use bold, painterly strokes to paint the sky, headland, and beach, ensuring smooth transitions and soft edges. Capture the essence of the beach with textured brushwork and subtle reflections in the water. Let your creativity flow as you experiment with different models and perspectives, and embrace the organic development of your painting.
Points to remember
Contrast the warmth of the rocks against the coolness of the background for a dynamic composition.
Enhance the contrast between warm and cool areas to make the focal elements stand out more strongly.
Simplify the background to allow the tree's branches and foliage to stand out without competing for attention.
Ensure shadows fan out towards the sun, as this creates a realistic depiction of light and shadow.
Always lay out more paint than you think you'll need, as it's easier to return it to a jar than squeeze it back into a tube.
Sketch lightly with a pencil to prevent graphite from showing through the paint.
Use a lot of paint and keep it wet with a spray bottle for smooth transitions and soft edges.
Keep your palette wet to maintain the paint's workability, especially when blending large areas.
