Painting Milford Sound is a dream come true for me, a place I've longed to capture on canvas since childhood. This stunning New Zealand landscape, often called the 8th Wonder of the World, is a perfect subject with its dramatic lighting and majestic peaks. In this chapter, we'll explore how to convey the grandeur and depth of this scene using seven visual tools. We'll start by understanding scale, atmospheric perspective, and overlapping shapes to create a sense of distance. Texture plays a crucial role, with thicker, rougher strokes in the foreground contrasting with smoother ones in the background. As we paint, we'll adjust colors to reflect the scene's cool, misty atmosphere and warm sunlit areas. I'll guide you through each step, from sketching the composition to adding the final details, ensuring you capture the essence of Milford Sound. Whether you're using oils or acrylics, this lesson will enrich your painting skills and inspire you to explore new creative paths. Let's dive into this breathtaking scene and bring its beauty to life on your canvas.
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
"Milford Sound 3" 13.5 x 28" Oil on Linen by Richard Robinson
Step 6Painting the Mountains
Mix the Base Dark Color
Mix a generous amount of a dark color using blue, permanent rose, and a touch of orange. Add white to see the resulting shade. Adjust with red and more orange to tone down the blue. This will be your base color for the mountains.
Create the First Layer
Brush in the dark base color onto the canvas, leaving space for mist and waterfall spray. This layer should be quite dark to represent the closest mountains.
Lighten and Warm the Color
Add more white, rose, and orange to the base color to create a lighter, warmer shade. Apply this to areas further back in space, closer to the sun, to create depth.
Adjust for Distance
Continue adding white to lighten the color as you move further back into the valley. Test small spots to ensure the color is not too blue or red. Make subtle adjustments as needed.
Prepare for Sky and Foliage
Keep the mixed colors on your palette for later use in mixing greens for foliage highlights. Paint the mountains slightly larger to allow for adjustments when painting the sky.
Refine with Blue and White
Add a little more blue and white to the mix for areas further from the sun. Ensure the value is similar to the previous layer but slightly bluer. This helps create the illusion of distance.
Final Adjustments
As the mountains recede into the valley, add more white to lighten the bottom. For the foreground, use a mix similar to the previous layer but slightly darker to differentiate from the background.
Pro tipPaint the mountains slightly larger than needed to allow for edge refinement when adding the sky.
Embark on your painting journey by immersing yourself in the majestic beauty of Milford Sound. Begin by observing the scene's natural grandeur, focusing on the interplay of light and shadow that defines its dramatic landscape. Capture the essence of the scene by carefully selecting and composing key elements such as Mitre Peak, Sterling Falls, and the reflective waters, ensuring that your composition conveys both depth and atmosphere.
As you progress, use perspective and color to create a sense of depth and scale. Adjust the size of distant mountains to counteract the camera's distortion, and apply atmospheric perspective by transitioning from warmer, lighter colors in the foreground to cooler, darker hues in the background. This technique will enhance the three-dimensionality of your painting, drawing the viewer into the scene.
In the final stages, focus on refining details and adding the finishing touches. Use soft edges to blend the sky seamlessly with the mountains, and incorporate subtle variations in color to add interest and realism. Pay attention to the reflections and mist, which unify the composition and enhance the overall mood. With these techniques, your painting will capture the breathtaking beauty of Milford Sound, inviting viewers to experience its serene and powerful presence.
Points to remember
Focus on the lighting effects to enhance the sculptural quality of the scene.
Create a panoramic composition by cropping unnecessary elements and focusing on the main features.
Apply warmer and lighter colors to elements closer to the sun and cooler, darker colors to those further away to enhance depth.
Use a paper towel to gently rub off excess paint when toning the canvas, allowing it to dry quickly.
Make mountains steeper than they are in reality to add drama and impact to your landscape painting.
Paint the mountains slightly larger than needed to allow for edge refinement when adding the sky.
Blur the edges of reflections by brushing sideways and then downwards for a softer, more natural look.
As elements recede into the background, make them lighter and bluer to create a sense of depth.
