(My “On the Easel” posts give you a behind-the-scenes look at what I am working on, what went well, what went wrong, and things I learn).
Details
- Oil on canvas board. 12 x 16 inches.
- Main colors: Ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cadmium red, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, viridian green, raw umber, titanium white.
Refer to my supplies list for more details on what I use.
Progress Shots
Notes
- Avoid long breaks between paintings. Stay active and keep your instinct fresh. This painting was my first since early 2020 and I could feel the “ring-rust”.
- Richard Schmid suggests that dark accents are always warm, regardless of the light source. I played around with this idea in this painting. Notice the small dabs of warmth at the bottom of the trees.
- Use subtle brushwork and broken color to add variance to “bland” areas. Refer to the clear blue sky.
- We tend to be most critical of a painting immediately after finishing. Take a break and reserve judgment for later. I was not satisfied with this painting initially, but my opinion changed a few days later with fresh eyes.
Thanks for Reading!
Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I appreciate it! Feel free to share with friends.
Want to learn more about landscape painting? Check out my Landscape Painting Masterclass.
Happy painting!
Dan Scott
Dan, your “On the Easel “ posts have been really a lifesaver during the Covid-19 lockdown.
I’ve worked my way through most of them. A couple turned out well enough to hang in the living room. Is there a reference photo you could share for “ Secrets of the Lake?”
You threw a curve ball on the progress shots. The little island or floating log disappears in the finished work, replaced by ? Seaweed? Algae blooms?
The secrets of the lake May 4, 2020
Which part is enlarged and how many times? In which picture?
Thank you.