Step-by-step painting guide

The French Alps

A step-by-step painting guide by Richard Robinson

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!

This guide accompanies the full video lesson. The lesson includes the complete narrated video, the printable PDF chapter, and personalised critique support.

See the full lesson
"The French Alps" 13 x 13" Acrylic on Canvas by Richard Robinson
"The French Alps" 13 x 13" Acrylic on Canvas by Richard Robinson

Step 13Mixing and Applying Rock Colors

How do you mix a color for the shadow side of a rock?

To mix a color for the shadow side of a rock, start with a fairly neutral gray and add a little bit of warmth. You can achieve this by incorporating a touch of yellow. If the rock is in a greenish area, like surrounded by grass and trees, you might want to add a little bit of green. For more details, visit the lesson page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

What technique can create texture in rock painting?

To create texture in rock painting, try not mixing the paint thoroughly on your palette. This will result in a nice streaking effect that can easily add texture to the rocks. For further exploration of this technique, check out the lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

How can you avoid making rocks look too smooth when painting?

To avoid making rocks look too smooth, let your brush strokes lay where they fall and avoid overworking the paint. Stepping back from the painting every few brushstrokes helps ensure the texture reads well from a distance. For more tips on achieving the right texture, visit https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

Why would you add warmer, lighter orange to a rock in a painting?

Adding warmer, lighter orange to a rock can simulate the effect of warm grasses reflecting their light onto the rock's shadow side. This technique adds depth and realism to your painting. Learn more about this approach at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

How do you strengthen shadows on rocks in a painting?

To strengthen shadows on rocks, use a warm, darker gray. This can enhance the depth and contrast in your painting. For additional guidance on shadow techniques, visit the lesson page at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

What is the purpose of using a mid-gray palette?

Using a mid-gray palette helps you judge other values more accurately. It provides a neutral background that allows you to better assess the colors and tones you are mixing. For more insights on using a mid-gray palette, check out https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

How do you mix a bluish mid-gray for the lights on the top of a rock?

To mix a bluish mid-gray for the lights on the top of a rock, start with a mid-gray and add a touch of blue. This color reflects the bluish sky and gets darker and bluer as it moves into the shadow. For a deeper understanding of this technique, visit 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.