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 17Foreground Details and Highlights

How do you create the appearance of tussock grasses in a painting?

To create the appearance of tussock grasses, use mostly upstrokes with your brush. This technique results in a soft edge at the top of the stroke, mimicking the look of grasses. For more detailed guidance, you can explore the full lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

How do you adjust the color of the foreground as you move into the corner of the painting?

As you move into the corner of the painting, you can make the colors gradually darker and cooler by adding more blue to your brown mixture. This helps create depth and a sense of shadow in the painting. For further insights, visit the lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

What is important to consider when drawing rocks that are further away in a painting?

When drawing rocks that are further away, it's important to make them smaller, skinnier, and closer together. This creates a sense of distance and perspective in your painting. To learn more about this technique, check out the full lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

How can you create the effect of a log lying in the grass in a painting?

To create the effect of a log lying in the grass, brush in the log quickly and then add some grasses in front of it using quick upward strokes. This makes it look like the log is sitting naturally in the grass. For more detailed instructions, visit the lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

How do you add highlights and shadows to rocks in a painting?

After blocking in the shadow and mid-value sides of the rocks, you can add highlights on the top. Then, make the areas around the rocks darker and cooler by adding a bit of blue and grey to create shadows. For a comprehensive guide, refer to the lesson at https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/62-The-French-Alps.

What technique can be used to add vibrant green spots in a painting?

To add vibrant green spots in a painting, you can use them sparingly to add a little bit of 'spice' or interest to the scene. These spots can enhance the overall vibrancy and appeal of your painting. For more techniques like this, explore the lesson 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.