5 keys to painting better mountains

Get the full 2.5hr lesson here: https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/23...

5 key tips to master painting mountains

Interesting Shapes
The first thing beginners get wrong with mountains is the shapes - the drawing. Repeating triangles is not the way to go! Each mountain has a unique shape and character - make note of it and exagerate the differences, even when they are few. Every great mountain painter has at some point exaggerated the steepness and height of a mountain. It's dramatic and it works.

Homogeneous Colour
Vast distances reveal strong atmospheric perspective, where the colours of the mountains become more and more like the colour of the sky. Warm colours gradually turn cool in the distance and contrast between colours also decreases. Getting those subtle colour relationships just right is the key to creating depth. I show you how in the video lesson. 

Mist
Adding mist or dust in the air at the base of the mountains helps to define each layer of depth better so it's easier to read from a distance. It also adds more colour variety and a hint of romance and mystery.

Brushwork
Keeping the paintwork relatively flat compared to a thicker, bolder treatment in the foreground increases the sense of depth and scale in the painting. I'll show you the special brush I use to achieve this.

Spotlights
Focusing light on key parts of the mountains and fading out light and detail around that area helps to add a greater sense of scale and also more drama and interest to the painting.

Each of these keys is further explained and demonstrated in the painting video lesson, and lots more.

Let's PAINT!
Follow me one brushstroke at a time as I take you through the full process of creating this expressive painting of the Paradise Valley in New Zealand. Learn how to design around a central lighting idea and discover the power of a simple palette and a painterly approach. Enjoy!

Suitable for oils or acrylics, and intermediate to advanced painters.

Get the full 2.5hr lesson here: https://mypaintingclub.com/lessons/23...