Majestic Peaks Painting
Materials
- *#Titanium White
- *Cadmium Yellow
- *Alizarin Crimson
- *Phthalo Blue
- *Sap Green
- *Fan brush
- *1" brush
- *Painting knife
- *#Liquid White
- *Canvas
- Odorless paint thinner
*Included in Basic Kit
#Included in Booster kit
Optional Materials:
- Masking tape
- Script Liner brush
- Bright Red
- Yellow Ochre
- Indian Yellow
- Phthalo Green
- Van Dyke Brown
Instructions
Preparation:
- Optional - tape the outside edges of the canvas.
- Cover the entire canvas with a thin, even coat of Liquid White using the 1" brush. Work the paint back and forth and up and down in long strokes to cover the canvas evenly. Do not allow it to dry before you begin.
Sky and Water: Use Phthalo Blue applied with the large brush in crisscross patterns working downward in layers to just above the halfway point. Then use horizontal strokes to lay in color for the water. Wipe out the brush and then go over everything again to blend it.
Mountains: The basic mountain shape is made with the knife using a mix of Phthalo Blue, Alizarin Crimson, and Sap Green. (You can substitute Sap Green for Van Dyke Brown if you have it.) Cut a small roll of paint onto your knife and push the paint into the canvas with a firm pressure scraping off all excess paint. Using your 1" brush, blend the mountain downward following the angles.
Highlights: Highlights are Titanium White laid on using the long edge of the knife. Start each stroke with a small roll of paint, following the angles in the mountain, and allowing the paint to "break." Apply very little pressure to the knife when making the paint break.
Shadows: The shadows are Titanium White with a touch of Phthalo Blue applied in the same manner but pulled in the opposite direction. The mist is made by tapping the bottom of the mountain with the large brush then lifting upward to blend together.
Trees and Bushes: Leaf trees and bushes are made with either the 1" brush or a fan brush. For a 1" brush, load it by pulling it through a mixture of Phthalo Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Sap Green or Van Dyke Brown. Pull the brush in one direction to round one corner. With the rounded corner up, push the brush into the canvas, forcing the bristles to bend upward.
Evergreen trees are made with a fan brush. Load the brush flat through the paint to create a chisel edge. Touch the canvas with the brush held vertically to create the center of the tree. Limbs are made using the corner of the brush held horizontally. As you work down the tree, use more of the brush and more pressure, forcing the bristles to bend downward. Add tree trunks with a knife. Load the knife with a mixture of Alizarin Crimson and Sap Green (or Van Dyke Brown) and a bit of titanium white.
Grass: Use either brush held horizontally (with the same dark color mixture) and push it into the canvas, forcing the bristles to bend upward.
Highlights: To highlight the trees and bushes, load the 1" brush the same way you did to make the tree or bush. Use a touch of Liquid White and a combination of any highlight color--Phthalo Green, Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Indian Yellow, Bright Red, Sap Green.
Reflections: To make your reflections, use a clean 1" brush held horizontally to the canvas. Touch the canvas and pull downward. Using the brush flat, make long horizontal strokes over the reflections to give a watery appearance. Waterlines are Liquid White applied with the knife using a firm pressure.
Finishing Touches: Sticks and branches may be cut in using the point of the knife with a firm pressure. Use a script liner to sign your name!
Extra Tips:
- You always need dark to show light. Any element you make on the canvas should be done with a dark color and then highlighted.
- A thin paint will stick to a thick paint. If you are having a hard time getting your paint to stick, try thinning it down a very little bit.
- Wipe your paint brushes out A LOT. Every time you put paint on top of paint, you pick up colors already on the canvas. Wipe out your brush to keep your highlights bright and clean.