In this chapter, I'll guide you through painting the enchanting Bucklerburn River scene in Glenorchy, New Zealand, capturing the mesmerizing 'contre-jour' or backlighting effect. This technique, where the primary light source is positioned behind the subject, creates a dramatic and striking landscape with silhouettes, glowing highlights, and atmospheric depth. You'll learn to balance strong contrasts and subtle variations, enhancing the mood and mystery of your painting. I'll show you how to design for success by enhancing natural elements, like shifting mountains and simplifying streams, to create a compelling composition. We'll start with a purplish-grey base coat, gradually adding pink and yellow as we approach the sun, and then layer lighter colors over the top. As we work on the foreground, we'll ensure it's vibrant and warm, with thicker paint for texture and depth. This step-by-step process is designed for both beginners and advanced painters, using oils or acrylics. Embrace the challenge, experiment with different brushes, and discover new styles. Together, we'll create a beautiful mountain river painting in just over two hours. Enjoy the journey!
This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.
"Bucklerburn" 10.5 x 17" Oil on Linen by Richard Robinson
Step 25Foreground Grasses and Riverbank
Warm Up the Riverbank
Clean your brush and add a little red to warm up the color. Apply this warm tone to the riverbank area, creating a sense of depth and warmth.
Create Warm Dark Tones
Mix blue, red, and a bit of orange to achieve a very warm dark color. Use this mixture to paint the grasses on the bank, adding depth and contrast.
Add Greener Tones
As you move away from the warmth, add bright yellow to your dark mixture to create a greener tone. Apply this to the darker areas to enhance the natural look of the grasses.
Highlight with Warm Light
Introduce some light by adding white, bright yellow, and gold ochre to your mixture. Apply this to create interesting thin shapes and light spots, giving the impression of a spotlight effect.
Adjust Tree Base Heights
Raise the base of the closer trees slightly higher than the distant ones. This adjustment helps convey that the closer trees are not larger but simply nearer.
Soften and Add Side Light
Use soft vertical strokes to soften the edges of the trees. Add a little orange as you move to the side-lit areas, enhancing the lighting effect.
Preserve Dark Clumps
Apply thick paint with soft edges, preserving the dark areas to suggest clumps of grass being backlit. This technique adds texture and depth to the scene.
Pro tipUse soft vertical strokes to soften edges and create a natural transition between light and shadow.
Embark on your painting journey by embracing the unexpected. If you find yourself without your usual tools, see it as an opportunity to experiment with different brush shapes and techniques. This can lead to discovering new styles and invigorating your creative process. As you progress, consider investing in quality brushes that enhance your experience and open up new artistic possibilities.
When setting up your materials, choose a fine weave linen canvas to enhance texture and vibrant oil paints for rich color. Begin your composition by sketching the horizon and mountains, ensuring a low horizon to give prominence to the mountains. Use broad strokes to establish the base colors and gradually build up layers, paying attention to light and shadow to create depth and interest.
As you refine your painting, focus on transitions and details. Use techniques like scumbling to apply thin layers and create smooth transitions. Incorporate warm colors to enhance the glow of the scene, and use broad brush strokes to suggest detail without overworking the painting. Remember to maintain clean color application by using minimal strokes and keeping your palette organized for easy adjustments.
Points to remember
Experiment with different brush shapes to unlock new styles and techniques.
Choose brushes with black handles to avoid glare when painting outdoors.
Leave at least an inch of space between the mountain peaks and the top edge of the canvas to avoid a cramped composition.
Use a scumbling technique to cover the canvas lightly, avoiding thick paint layers.
Use the side of a broad brush to create a smooth color transition across the canvas.
Incorporate yellow to intensify the glow and lighten the painting simultaneously.
Use a dry brush technique with thick paint to create textured effects that mimic snow and ice.
Use broad brush strokes to suggest detail without relying on small brushes, creating a more artistic feel.
