Aubrey V.D. 16x20" Oil on canvas "Adirondacks"

Final Project

I chose to paint a 16”/20” in landscape. The landscape is painted from a picture taken in the Adirondacks. The Adirondacks is known for its picturesque scenery. The complexity of nature gives the artist freedom to find new ways to describe nature with paint. It is almost impossible to paint an exact copy of a photograph depicting nature, but I find it amazing that the tonality and brush strokes can mimic that of leaves on a tree and the glistening rocks in the water. Painting two other landscapes earlier in the semester, I had found that I really enjoy painting this subject matter. I have learned new techniques from each of the previous paintings that I wanted to incorporate into a new piece. Painting is a learning experience, and I discover something new in every painting.

The left side of the painting is very dark and shaded by the trees, whereas the right side is very bright and colorful. The grass and trees are very warm, and the water is cool. The warm and cool colors play off each other creating a very active scene. The eye has to look at every part of the painting before turning away. The small bright accents are very attractive. The trees have a lot of texture. In contrast, parts of the stream that are calm and smooth needed a smooth texture, therefore I made it harder to see the brush strokes. The brush strokes play an important role in creating atmosphere and I used it to my advantage. The painting goes back into space hundreds of feet. The best way to create depth in a painting is to really show those shadows and highlights. Each time when a shadow and highlight are placed next to each other, more depth is added to the painting. A highlight is often a sharp edge and the shadows are very soft and diffused. I tried my best to keep the dark areas light weight and airy, by painting only one coat of dark paint. The undercoat is very important because it ties the whole piece together. I struggled painting the trees and they may have been overworked somewhat. Next time I paint a landscape, I think I now know how to handle them better. It is all about shadows and highlights, and the placement of the quick brush strokes.

I have learned the importance of letting the undercoat show through a little. I learned more about the technique of layering the paint and yet keep the painting from getting over worked. I am still experimenting, and each painting is a success to me because of the progress I am making. Overall, I think the best feature is the water and rocks. I seem to know exactly what to do when it comes to painting them.

The painting simply say’s “I am a Landscape.” It is not painted photo realistically but it is obvious what it is of. In a way, this is a very simple piece, because it is only a study of how to paint the idea of a landscape. I am learning how to use tone to create depth, how to layer the paint, and how to paint hundreds of leaves and blades of grass with only a few strokes.