Just a simple one today: Maryvale, Sunny Landscape.
Reference Photo and Study
Here’s the reference photo I painted from:
Feel free to paint it yourself if you like.
I also did a couple of color studies for this painting (top left and middle):
Details
- Oil on stretched canvas. 16×20 inches.
- Main colors: Ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, cadmium yellow, cadmium yellow deep, viridian green, transparent brown oxide, and titanium white.
Refer to my supplies list for more details on what I use.
Notes
- This painting helped me break out of a creative rut. Simple subjects like this are great to get a quick win under your belt. There’s nothing worse than having a painting go wrong after a dry spell.
- Simple subjects are challenging in the sense you need to work harder to make them interesting. In this case, I used thick texture and color variance to inject life into the scene.
- I pushed the color temperature of the clouds. A touch of purple in the shadows and yellow in the lights to make them “pop”.
Progress Shots
Step 1: A simple sketch, focusing on key lines and shapes.
Step 2: Block-in general color shapes.
Step 3: Start refining the shapes.
Step 4: Add texture and variance to the foreground. Focus on capturing the illusion of detail.
Step 5: Do the same for the trees on the left.
Step 6: Add the dark trees just below the horizon line.
Step 7: Refine and make sure everything works together.
Step 8. Sign and photograph the finished painting.
Additional Resources
Thanks for Reading!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I appreciate it! Feel free to share with friends. If you want more painting tips, check out my Painting Academy course.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Draw Paint Academy
