Painting Demonstration of Florida Landscape
While gathering together my supplies for a public painting demonstration at Art Center Sarasota where I teach year round I decided to take this photo I shot recently for my subject. It is a gully that drains into a lake at Rothenbach Park just outside Sarasota. The late afternoon light reflecting on the water with contrasting darker areas of grass and trees framing the scene made an arresting composition. I also was attracted to the distant woodland across the lake with pastel grayed colors.
Step 1
I prefer working on an easel rather than flat on a table. My canvas is 12x16 toned with an orange acrylic. I use most any warm acrylic color like Burnt Sienna, Quinacridone / Nickel Azo Gold, orange or Red Oxide. I determined the center of the photo and the canvas to start and put a dot there with a #7 round bristle brush. I use a mixture of dark blue and red to make a neutral dark color and draw the lighted opening in the scene very quickly. Next I blocked in the dark trees framing the scene. I toned the grassy gully banks with a lighter wash. I established the far side of the lake (horizon) and the tree line with the same lighter wash. Now I have the entire scene blocked in with all the same color but in different values.
Step 2
Next came the light areas of water reflections, lake and sky with pale yellow, blue and green. On the right I suggested palmettos in a gray green using a rigger and in the foreground put in a patch of light hitting the grass. Squinting at the photo and canvas I check my values. I use the same procedure whether using oil or acrylic. At this stage I work fast and loose with a larger brush. My colors and values will change as the painting progresses. Every part of the scene will be adjusted in placement, value several times before the picture is finished. I explained that I didn’t have an exact preconceived image in my head when I started. I alter shapes, colors etc. according to what I think the painting needs. My reference photo or my viewing the actual scene is only a guide that allows me much leeway in the studio or in plein air.
With talking and answering questions from the viewers concerning materials and techniques and such, this is as far as the demo went. I promised I’d finish in my studio and put it on this blog. The next steps were in my studio.
Step 3
I adjusted shapes and colors of the far trees, darkened the far edge of the lake and lightened the lake surface. By defining the shapes of the puddle water and building up contrast I worked toward getting a reflective effect. Sometimes water takes a lot of trial and error. Good reference photos are a must. If you rely on memory it can come out very unconvencing.
Step 4
I added branches and moss to define the negative shapes in the sky holes. These take a lot of painting back and forth to get pleasing relationships. I adjusted the light hitting the grasses at the near edge of the lake and added more ground and grass texture and moss.
Step 5
Final “ROTHENBACH REFLECTIONS”
I worked more darks into the foreground to increase contrast and lightened the sunlit grasses near the lake and in the foreground. I eliminated some of the puddle water but maybe should not have. There are times when I’ll leave the bright preliminary colors and push the intensity till the end for more drama or excitement like the third step. Other times I end up going for subtlety. Most students are somewhat perplexed with the idea of working with no drawing. It does take some drawing experience and will. I think of it like drawing on a chalkboard because you can erase easily when it’s wet or you can paint corrections. For many years I worked in watercolor which I almost always did a careful drawing because of the unforgiving nature of the medium. Acrylic and oil make it a lot easier.
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I hope you enjoyed this demo. I will be doing more.
Happy Painting!
My class starting in January at Art Center Sarasota is already full but they are taking a waiting list for a possible second class. Call them 941-365-2032
