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 9Painting the Headland and Hill
Mix the Base Color
Use the same brush to mix a fair amount of blue, a little magenta, and some white. This will be the base color for the headland and hill, as it covers a large area. Keep your palette wet to maintain the paint's workability.
Define the Hill and Foliage
With the base color, define the shape of the hill. Use the flat of the brush to dab and create varied strokes for the tree foliage, avoiding repetitive shapes.
Paint Branches and Trunks
Switch to a small square brush to paint in the branches and trunks. Create interesting, wriggly shapes for the trunks, thinking of them as a family of shapes with a 'hero' shape and smaller ones branching off.
Add Light and Warmth
As you move towards the sunlit area, add lighter and warmer tones, using yellows and whites. Blend while the paint is wet to create a glowing light effect.
Create Sky Holes and Details
Add sky holes by painting the negative space between branches. Keep the shapes varied and consider the clumps of foliage you're designing. Add highlights and details with a dagger brush, using lighter colors near the sun.
Adjust Colors and Shapes
Darken areas that need more depth and adjust the shapes for interest. Add touches of green by mixing yellow and white into shadow colors, and use magenta to warm up greys for rock faces.
Finalize with Highlights
Add highlights to trunks and fence posts with a mix of yellow and white. Use warm greys to suggest the hill rounding over the top, catching the sky's color.
Pro tipKeep your palette wet to maintain the paint's workability, especially when blending large areas.
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.
