Today I was also working on the mountains and the trees and started with the ground. The mountains had to be clearer in similar tones to the sky ones. There was something wrong with it: the brush strokes looked like waves on water, the colors do not look so good either… and so on. Thus, I decided to leave it for the next day.
The new fan brushes work really good. I used the fan brush No. 6 for the trees. Basically I used yellow ochre although some zones have a pinch of green or red-brown. The teacher’s comment here was that I had to use much more oil, we are looking for a sort of texture, we must cover the darker colors with each brush stroke.
And, as the teacher said, the grass was growing in my painting! I used the fan brush No. 2 with yellow and little bit of green in the distant zones near to the mountain, and yellow ochre in the closest ones. The effect obtained with these brushes is so cool. The grass and leaves textures can be easily achieved with them.
I will need at least a couple of hours, the next lecture, for finishing the painting. I must keep working on the mountain (adding details) and the trees (basically the trunks and adding some contrast in the leaves) but I must start with the path, the house and the hardest zone: the lake in the right bottom side of the canvas. The trees are reflected in the lake and its water has a very dark brown tone. Fortunately the waves on water will not be a trouble: I was practicing in the mountain today!
“working on the mountain (adding details)” My suggestion is that you do NOT do this. We see details in the foreground objects not in the distance or background. The soft blurs is how we show distance and depth in contrast to the more detailed front trees. It could use a few dark strokes I would say for a little more contrast within the mountain.
Yes, I agree. Surely I didn’t express the ideas correctly. The photo is not good but currently the mountain looks “very flat”. The issue is to increase the contrast in some zones. Yesterday the oil was wet and I can not work.
Thank you very much!
I can really see now how the fan brush works great for the leaves. You have done a great job!
I’m using the mobile phone camera for these photos and the light conditions are very poor (all the photos look blurred). I will use my camera and better light when finished.
The idea is to use simultaneously many different color tones (you can use yellows in the left and browns in the right part of the brush) and practically “to leave” the paint on the canvas. It is very easy and the result is spectacular. It is impossible (or very difficult) to achieve the same effect with a normal brush.
Thanks!
Thanks , I shall look forward to seeing the photos. You really do give me inspiration to paint…and once I start I shall be following all the great tips you have posted, especially on use of colour.
Thanks.
Now that makes me wanna buy a fan brush! lol
Hmm…your post tempts me to study on using oil paints.
I might enroll on an art class as well soon!
Great! I’m learning and enjoying a lot. It isn’t my favorite medium but I have to use all those tubes oil paint tubes that I have bought!
What medium do you prefer the most? I was given a set of oil painting tools, acrylic set, and watercolour tubes. It is a pity that I don’t get to use them yet. I might experiment on those 3 mediums soon enough.
I prefer pen and ink with watercolor washes… and even without watercolors. I guess I prefer drawing to painting. Charcoal is also a nice medium. And graphite pencils, too. I never used pastels.
I had already used oils many, many years ago. It is very complex to achieve the exact color to me, I guess it’s a matter of practice. I enjoyed the last lesson. I’m starting to understand the whole process. Let’s see the next painting…
Also I was given an acrylic set and I don’t get to use it either. It is similar to oil painting but it dries faster so it requires a different approach. I also used gouache many years ago. It is fun, too.
Maybe you could start with watercolors. Try to experiment with the paper you already have but you should check other papers also (from 180 gsm to 300 gsm and beyond). You could follow a similar approach that you follow in your videos but by using watercolors rather than colored pencils. Check first if your fine liner is waterproof. I use Uni Pin but almost everybody uses Sakura Micron (I don’t find that brand here). It isn’t a problem, even you can use the effect, check this: http://wp.me/p1tlbi-jH
Experiment and enjoy!
I’m much more familiar with watercolors than oil and acrylics. It’s the second medium I learned after the pencils long ago. But it takes me more than just 30 minutes to complete a small picture using the watercolors with a satisfactory result.
About oil painting, I guess I’ll test it out first before enrolling to an oil painting class since I think I might be allergic to strong paint smell. I got sick after painting an entire room with an oil-based enamel paint. Thanks for the advice!
This painting is coming more to life every time I see it…Looking good, Nuno!
Hugs, xx
Thank you, Deb. I’m almost at the end of the painting. I guess I’ll start the next painting in two weeks. I already have an idea for the next subject. It has to be based on a photography for working on how to get real colors (currently I’m using another painting as model).
Those trees are looking sweet!!!
Thanks. The fan brushes are a good thing!
I think it is coming along very nicely! I look forward to the finished painting.
-Cindy
Probably I’ll finish it the next Tuesday.
Thanks.
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