Autumn Glow

Step 1 (left) -- 1 hourSketch in the basic elements of the landscape: sky, distant trees, land contours, water area, foreground trees, evergreen trees and rocks etc.1. Block in the sky with cerulean blue and white (with a touch of yellow ochre in the mix). "Dab" the clouds into the sky with titanium white using a thick, round bristle brush; blend and blur the cloud edges.2. Paint in tree trunk outlines, rocks, land contours etc. with a mix of burnt sienna and cerulean blue.3. Block in foliage and land areas with a mix of yellow ochre and cadmium orange, applying the paint thinly to start with.4. Paint in the evergreens with a dark mix of burnt umber, sap green and blue. Use a painting knife to achieve the texture.5. Lightly paint the sky tone into the water area.

Oil Painting Project: Autumn Glow (Impressionism)4-hour landscape painting -- Michael Spillane

Gallery Canvas -- 24 x 24 inches The finished painting shown to the right was completed in a very loose Impressionism style, combining broad thick brush strokes and textural effects using a painting knife and a variety of brushes. The objective of the project was to capture the stunning vibrant splash of fall colours in the landscape. Each stage of the painting was finished within an hour, totalling four hours to complete the painting.

Finished painting: Autumn Glow -- 24 x 24 inches

1

2

Step 2. (left) -- 1 hour1. Block in the background and water reflection areawith cadmium orange, cadmium yellow, burnt siennaand white for highlights.2. Paint in mid-ground land area with more burntsienna and foreground area with mixes of the above.3. Mid-ground trees: Use a dark mix of burnt umberburnt sienna and blue; highlight with yellow ochre and white.4. Foreground trees: Yellow ochre, sap green and white.5. Rocks: In the light areas use mixes of ceruleanblue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, yellow ochre and white. In the dark areas use blue, brown, green etc.6. Block in the evergreen bushes and trees withmixes of sap green, yellow, blue and black.7. Continue with both dark and highlight areas.8. Block in tree foliage with burnt sienna, cadmiumorange and yellow ochre.Note: Use a painting knife for the evergreens, rocklines and water highlights. Use both round and fanbristle brushes for foliage effects.

Step 3. (right) -- 1 hour1. Continue adding detail to the painting as shown to the left; create dabs and spashes of colour and textural effects with the painting knife, fan brush and round bristle brushes.

2

3

3

Supplies and Materials24 x 24-inch primed cotton gallery canvas • Small and medium size metal diamond-shape painting knifes • Paper towels and disposable palette book• Liquin or medium for glazing and thinning paint • Container for the medium•

BrushesI used a combination of older brushes including the following:

Thick, round bristle brush• Small and medium size bristle fan brushes• Assorted flat, round and pointed brushes including: • Flat #10 Curry’s bristle brush• Flat #20 Curry’s soft brush• #12 round bristle brush• #12 round, soft Artisan W&N brush• Escoda 1 & 2 pointed brushes•

Step 4. (right) -- 1 hour1. Add more colour and texture to the tree trunks and branches; use thick paint in bold strokes with both the painting knife and brush to create light and dark values.2. Using the edge of the painting knife, scrape cut lines of light (white) into the water.3. Add foreground texture with the fan brushand round pointed brushes (mixes of green, cadmium red, burnt sienna, yellow, white etc)4. Using a soft, flat brush, blur reflectionsinto the water surface using different colours to reflect the surrounding landscape.5. Throughout the painting add dabs of bright yellow, dark areas of green and burnt sienna and specks, splashes and patterns of red and cadmium orange.6. With a pointed brush and a dark mix, add thin branches and twigs to the trees.7. Add more light and dark contrast. 8. Emphasize bold colours and textures for the foreground grasses and shrubbery.

4

Winsor & Newton PaintsCerulean blue• Yellow ochre• Sap green• Burnt sienna• Burnt umber• Cadmium red• Cadmium yellow • Cadmium orange•

(mixed from above red and yellow)Titanium white• Lamp black or Payne's grey•