FREE ONLINE ART LESSONS FOR BEGINNING ARTISTS LANDSCAPE PAINTING AND DECORATIVE PAINTING
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Table of Contents - Page One: Skies in Landscapes, Perspective Basics Table of Contents - Page Two: Leaf Masses, Distant Trees (coming soon), Decorative Painting - Basic Rosebuds
Free Online Lessons for Beginning Landscape Artists
SKIES
Just starting to paint landscapes? Here are a few tips on just one approach to skies in a landscape.
When objects are in the far distance, they appear misty. The edges seem to merge and they tend to take on a tinge of a faded bluish color. Think of distant objects as being seen through a misty atmosphere. Similarly, the color of the sky is stronger overhead than it is far away and it, too, takes on a lighter appearance in the far distance, which is the horizon.
Follow the instructions below and practice painting a sky to better understand this concept - one of the ways to get the effect of distance in landscape paintings.
SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THE FOLLOWING PRACTICE LESSON: 8" x 10" canvas panel
Acrylic tube paint - White - Cerulean Blue - Yellow Ochre - Cadmium Red Light
A flat bristle brush, Size 10 or 12 A small palette knife for mixing the paint
A palette. A paper palette pad works well.
A spray bottle containing water in case the paint on the palette starts to dry.
A paint retarder - same brand as the paints - allows for more time for blending. Paper towels
A small container for water
Use the palette knife, add a touch of water so the paint will move easily, and mix the following:
Mix 1 - White + Cerulean Blue Mix 2- White + Touch of Yellow Ochre - an offwhite color Mix 3- Touch of Cadmium Red Light + White + Mix 1
Begin by picking up Mixture 1 with the #12 bristle brush and apply it with
criss cross strokes across an 8" edge of the canvas panel, for a vertical picture.
Continue down for about 2 inches. Wipe the brush to remove most of the paint
and pick up some of mixture 2 with the dirty brush.
Continue by brushing into the
bottom inch of the painted area, blending the colors, and continuing for about
another inch or so, blending and fading toward the horizon.
To suggest distant mountains, pick up some Mix 3 and lightly brush a few
horizontal strokes. Painting into the wet distant sky will soften the edges of the
mountains and add to the appearance of distance.
Wash the brushes with soap and water before the paint begins to dry in them.
HAPPY PAINTING ! !
These are general greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and much more. It always helps to get ideas for painting when seeing other artwork.
To have a sense of distance and form when drawing and painting on a flat surface,
it is necessary to have a basic knowledge of perspective - an understanding of how
receding lines converge at a vanishing point. After the initial sketch of the idea you
have for your painting, be sure to check the perspective. Learn how to check so that the
lines in every part of your painting are heading in the right directions.
No matter how skillfully you apply the paint, to have a successful painting, the general direction of the lines has to be correct at the start.
Many books are available for basic perspective instruction, along with free online instruction.
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