The sixth day and I did not finish the painting. Now I am not sure if I want to finish it. If I finish it the next day, it will remain just three days for a new painting. Maybe it is better to add more details or to improve some areas. I will ask to the teacher.
Today I was working on the mountain. I am more satisfied when I see the photo than when I see the painting. Follow this link to compare it with the earlier version. Basically I had to use light colors with lots of white, thus the mountain seems farther than the other elements. I started with a light gray –ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and white– with a bit of magenta and I was adding some ochre for increasing the contrasts.
Also I redid some trunks. I was adding more volume to them. And I also started to paint some branches. I must keep working on the branches and the first and fourth trees. The first tree is different to the others, it has three small trunks (perhaps they are three small trees). And I want to bring the fourth tree, just moving the base. The teacher said we will only define those five or six trees, we will not change the others, so it seems they are farther than the defined trees. I guess I will add more foliage with the magical fan brush.
I must work on the path and the house. I also want to improve the area that divides the grass and the mountain, now it looks like a wall. I will add some contrast there, too. I must add more reflections in the water… and I guess the teacher will suggest more changes. Today he said the island area and the grass look well.
I am starting to enjoy oil painting. I am starting to see the results.
Beautiful. Than I’ve stepped away from the computer and looked at it from a distance; it looks great! Wonderful what you’ve done to the mountain.
I’m happy with the mountain, it is very similar to the original painting. And yes, I agree, the distance helps a lot. In fact, the photo is better than the painting, it is smaller and a little bit blur.
Thank you!
I can’t wait to see the final art. Thanks for sharing Nonoy Manga
Yes, me too. I am learning and practicing new things every day.
Thanks for commenting.
I’m with nonomanga on this this one…”Can’t wait to see the finish.”
Hugs, xx
Thank you, Deb. Probably it will come the next day. It is in a couple of weeks, after the Holy Week vacation.
I don’t know if I will start a new painting. There are only three days left and one of them I will be giving a seminar… if the first day is for preparing the canvas and such… I will ask to the teacher.
When your teacher makes suggestions do they give you any ideas how to produce those results? Many do not.
Here are some tips you might try:
Rather than adding contrast to your “wall” add more short grass strokes in the foreground it will make it seem closer and less detail behind it gives it great depth.You can use the fan brush for this as well if you tap the tips and pull up slightly. I prefer a very striff bristled flat brush and I use the corner and dab.You could also tap some lighter colors at the base of the wall and go left to right with a large brush very gently to create a mist.It can be tapped off with cloth if it does not look as desired.
For the leaves on your trees try putting dark suck has van dyke brown first then add your highlight color being careful to leave some dark behind it. A round brush also does wonders much like the fan.
The mountain is off a tad because your highlight is on the wrong side. Your trees depict light from upper left corner your mountain should reflect the same.
All your reflection needs is some impression of leaves. again dab on just like leaves but use a large brush and pull it to the side gently this will give impression of water.
Lastly NEVER give up. Oil lets you fix so much and its minor adjustments that would improve it. You clearly have ability because for a starter painting it really is very very nice as is. I hope this helps you out.
Well, I think he is helping in the right way. I am not trying to interpret a landscape by myself, I am trying to make an exact copy of another painting. So, as my teacher as myself are trying to emulate the original painting. For example, probably the highlights on the mountain are in the wrong side, but they are in that area in the original painting. I am just copying, it is a way of approach to the techniques that I am learning.
Thank you very much for commenting and the tips, surely I’ll use many of them. The oil painting is very fun.
And I never give up. Remember, I’m a marathoner
my apologies for the typo’s hey are ‘stiff bristle brush’ and ‘such as’. If you take a peek at my blog you will see some of my landscapes perhaps they can help.
Yes, they are helping a lot! I’m following your blog and I visit it every now and then.
Thanks!
mountain looks much better
I didn’t know how to express it the past week, the problem was that the mountain was in the foreground, it seemed nearer than the other elements. The problem was not the mountain, it was the context, the composition.
Thank you, Carl.
The mountain looks great, I looked back at the previous lesson you had and you can see such a difference. It looks so much further in the distance…Its looks almost as if there is a light fog flowing over the mountain top where it reaches up towards the sky. I really like it. The trees definitely have more volume now too.
Well done!
Exactly! You are describing the mountain in the original painting, it seems I was able to reproduce some of it in my own painting.
Thanks, Kellie!
I like the mountain. Coming along nicely.
When the teacher saw the mountain, he said it has taken me a lot while he is laughing… I made the effort but it is well worth.
Thank you.
It is looking great! The trees and mountain are outstanding. I love by the way the grass in the front, with that yellowish tone. It is pretty amazing to think this is your first oil painting right?
Yes, it can be considered as my first oil painting. I painted just another one in my school days… many years ago. If I am able to find it… it will not be an easy task… I’ll post a photo. It has a very funny behind of it.
Thank you very much!
I admire you for taking an oil painting course with all else you have been exploring. Yes! You have created great depth in your painting by adding the white to haze out the mountain in the background. This is beautiful. I don’t even care what your photo reference looks like.
Thank you very much, Leslie. We don’t have class this week. It’s a pity because I’d like to keep working on it. Well, it will be there for the next week.
Thanks again, I appreciate your comments.
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