Learn to paint the beautiful French Alps, step by step. Ah, the French Alps in Summer! Magnifique! The hills are alive with the sound of cowbells and all we’re missing is Heidi frolicking in the meadows. Follow me step by step as I show you the techniques I use to paint this beautiful alpine scene quickly and easily in acrylics. Painting a diffuse light effect, vast atmospheric depth, dynamic brushwork and inventing convincing rocks are all demonstrated in the video. Enjoy!
Step 1Scene Selection and Materials
Why did you choose this particular scene in the French Alps to paint?
I chose this scene because, after a long walk up a valley, I found a spot that was breathtaking and difficult to capture in a photograph. The scene was vast, so I decided to focus on the beautiful rocks and the dark trees, using the ascending valley and mountain tops as a backdrop. You can explore more about this choice and the painting process on the sales page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.
What materials are you using for this painting of the French Alps?
For this painting, I'm using acrylics on an acrylic primed canvas. I have a limited selection of brushes and a glass jar full of water. I'm not using any painting medium, just straight acrylics. You can find more details about the materials and techniques on the sales page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.
What is your approach to layering in this painting?
My approach to layering in this painting is to work quickly, starting with the background, then moving to the mid-ground, and finally the foreground. This method helps me manage the drying time of the acrylics and tackle the painting one step at a time. For a deeper dive into this technique, visit the sales page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.
Summary & key takeaways
Reflecting on our journey through painting the French Alps, I aimed to capture the breathtaking scene that I encountered on my hike. The vastness of the landscape was challenging, yet rewarding, as we focused on the intricate details of the rocks and trees against the majestic backdrop of the mountains. By using acrylics, we embraced the quick-drying nature of the medium, allowing us to layer and build depth effectively.
Throughout this lesson, I encouraged you to see beyond the photograph, to interpret and express the scene with your own artistic flair. By grouping elements like trees and rocks into familial clusters, we created a harmonious composition that guides the viewer's eye through the painting. The sky, with its smooth gradation and subtle transitions, set the tone for the entire piece, while the mountains provided a solid foundation for our landscape.
I hope you take away the importance of working quickly with acrylics, using tools like stay wet palettes and retarders to manage drying times. Remember, the key to a successful painting lies in the details—suggesting rather than defining, and allowing the viewer's imagination to fill in the gaps. I look forward to seeing how you apply these techniques in your future works.
Points to remember
- Start with the background and work forward to manage drying time.
- Use a brush to sketch elements, not a pencil.
- Imagine trees and rocks as a family group to organize your composition.
- Create a smooth sky gradation to convey vastness.
- Feel free to deviate from the photograph for creative expression.
- Use a stay wet palette to keep acrylics workable longer.
- Add depth with color shifts—darker and greener in the foreground, lighter and bluer in the distance.
- Suggest details rather than painting them precisely.
