In this chapter, we'll explore the captivating scene of a tree on the river bend, inspired by the Rangiteiki River in New Zealand. This lesson is all about capturing the essence of what you love most in a scene and bringing it to life on canvas. We'll start by designing our painting in greyscale, focusing on the elements that truly speak to us, like the beautiful tree and the enchanting dappled light. I'll guide you through the process of using AI as a creative tool, showing you how it can help flesh out your design and save time while still allowing you to gain valuable experience. Whether you choose to incorporate AI or prefer a more traditional approach, the choice is yours—do what brings you joy. As we paint in oils, we'll embrace the alla prima technique, enjoying the freedom of completing the work in one session. You'll learn how to manage background and foreground elements, use light and shadow to create depth, and add finishing touches with precision. By the end of this chapter, you'll have a stunning painting that captures the serene beauty of the river bend, and you'll have expanded your artistic toolkit in the process.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
'The River Bend" 10x1" Oil on Board by Richard Robinson
Step 13Foliage and Tree Details
Create a Glowing Effect
Add more yellow to your paint mixture to create a glowing effect. This will serve as a half tone between light and dark areas, enhancing the backlighting and making it slightly punchier.
Use Gestural Brushwork
Apply a technique similar to creating a patchwork quilt or an abstract painting. Focus on being gestural with your brush, emphasizing the overall effect rather than exact details.
Apply Darkest Colors
Mix your colors to create the darkest darkness and apply them to subdued areas. Ensure these areas are fairly homogenous in value and dark to keep attention on the main areas of interest.
Embark on your painting journey by thoughtfully analyzing your reference photo and planning your composition. Transform the panoramic view into a square format that suits your canvas, and make artistic adjustments to elements like trees and light to capture the essence of the scene. Focus on what you love most about the scene, allowing other elements to play a supporting role.
As you progress, use digital tools and AI to explore variations and refine your design. Begin your painting with a solid block-in, establishing perspective with a carefully placed horizon line. Embrace the freedom of landscape painting, where slight variations add charm, and focus on capturing the larger composition before diving into details.
Bring your scene to life with thoughtful use of color and brushwork. Create depth with atmospheric perspective, and use reflections and light effects to add realism. Pay attention to textures and transitions, ensuring each element harmonizes with the overall composition. As you add final details, remember that subtlety and balance are key to achieving a cohesive and captivating painting.
Points to remember
Highlight areas where light comes through to capture the essence of the scene.
Curve the trunk to add character and create interesting shapes.
Position the horizon line slightly below the halfway point on your canvas to establish perspective.
Paint the background first to focus on the larger composition before adding details.
Mix more color than you think you'll need to ensure consistency and save time later.
Leave spots of the darkest color showing through to represent shadows under the bushes, adding depth and dimension.
Use only horizontal and vertical strokes when painting reflections in water to maintain realism.
Brush down to create the soft edge of the hill, enhancing the light effect.
