Nunnery Lakes. Painting #10. My First Original Oil Painting
Nunnery Lakes
Date Painted: January 26, 2017
Size: 16 x 20 canvas
“Go out on a limb — that’s where the fruit is.” – Bob Ross
Nunnery Lakes is my tenth painting and my first original oil painting. I did not follow along with any Joy of Painting episode. After completing 9 paintings in under a month by following along with Bob Ross, I decided to take what I’ve learned and venture out on my own.
Let’s Get Started
This post is about my original oil painting, Nunnery Lakes. First, I’ll talk about the inspiration for this painting. When I talk about inspiration in this blog, it will normally be why I chose a certain subject or Bob Ross episode to follow. Then, I will go over the colors and equipment I used and that you will need if you want to try your hand at it or something similar. Next, I will expound a bit about my process. Finally, I’ll wrap up with some lessons that I learned from painting this picture and things I could have done better or wished I had known. So join me on this trip down memory lane as I recap my tenth overall and my first original oil painting.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for this painting was a photo that someone posted, in a local Facebook group, of a local lake near where I lived in Thetford, England.
I thought it looked like a nice picture and something made me want to paint it. So I decided to try it. It looked like a scene I could apply the Bob Ross techniques to. Over the years I lived in the area, I would take my dog on many walks around the lake where he would sometimes swim and chase the ducks. Had I been more experienced at the time, I probably would have painted many more pictures of this lake area.
Materials Used
Here are the colors and equipment I used. All of the colors are included with the Bob Ross Master Paint Set.
Colors
- Bright Red
- Cadmium Yellow
- Dark Sienna
- Indian Yellow
- Midnight Black
- Phthalo Blue
- Sap Green
- Titanium Hwite
- Yellow Ochre
- Van Dyke Brown
- Don’t forget the Liquid Hwite!
Equipment
There are a couple colors Bob uses that are not included in the kit that I couldn’t use up until this point. Those colors were Yellow Ochre, Indian Yellow, and Dark Sienna.
I’ll admit, the kit can get a bit pricey. So here is an alternative starter oil paint set. Windsor and Newton is a solid brand. The only thing is it doesn’t come with any brushes or instructions.
Additional Items You Will Need
The Bob Ross kit doesn’t include everything you need to get started painting. It does include all the brushes and paint you need but in order to paint your own masterpieces you’ll need a few more things. I have you covered however.
Canvas
Stretched canvas is optimal here. You can paint on many surfaces but if you’re just getting started, I advise you to go with a basic stretched canvas. Most already come ready to paint on right out of the packaging. Above all, avoid canvas boards with this technique. Canvas boards tend to soak up the liquid white which is critical for this style of painting.
Easel
You’ll want a sturdy easel to hold your painting surface. The kit I mentioned above does include a carrying case which I used as a makeshift easel. Beware if you do this, however. The canvas is not secure. You could also lay the canvas flat on a desk or table. With that being said, you don’t require an easel but it sure makes life easier! Also, my new easel came in and this is the first painting I had the chance to use it. It is much better than the makeshift one I was using. It is the Bob Ross Table Top Easel. I received it as an early birthday present. It was a generous gift since it’s a bit pricey. Something like this one would work perfectly fine. I will say though that the Ross easel is quite sturdy and it has served me well to this present day.
Palette
The kit I keep mentioning over and over? There’s a reason. It really is a great starter kit to kick start your new painting hobby. You’ll need something to squeeze your paint onto. The kit comes with a small wooden palette. You can squeeze the paint directly onto it. However, if you want to keep your palette clean and smooth, you can put some palette paper on it. If you don’t have the kit, you can use paper plates or a piece of glass or Plexiglas. However, I highly suggest not using paper plates and use a hard flat surface.
Therefore, a nice large palette will be useful. You’ll need a palette that is big enough to give you sufficient area to mix lots of colors with the knife and big brushes. Plus, a proper palette makes you feel like a REAL artist! It did for me anyway.
Odorless Paint Thinner
The only small drawback with oil painting is the solvents required. You need to clean your brushes and odorless paint thinner or odorless mineral spirits work the best. To keep it contained, you’ll need a bucket. The Bob Ross company has the perfect thing. This bucket and screen combo will keep your thinner contained and secure. Surely after you clean your two inch brush, you’ll want to beat the devil out of it! But you certainly don’t want to do that in your home. Bob comes through again with a brush beater rack. Put this inside a box or waste basket and you can beat the devil to your heart’s content!
Before We Begin
Every wet on wet painting begins by covering the canvas with a medium. In most paintings he starts off with the medium known as Liquid White. Whether you’re painting with Bob or venturing out on your own for your first original oil painting, this technique requires Liquid White. Liquid White is a thin, fluid paint. Much thinner than the normal oil paint. This makes it easy to apply and mix with other colors right on the canvas.
I’ve watched every single Bob Ross episode and there are only two episodes where he demonstrates the application of Liquid White. Yet, he does not explain exactly how to apply it except in the one hour special video linked in Grandeur of Summer. Well, I’m here to help try to put into text what Bob was able to verbally explain.
Liquid White
How to apply liquid white. The first thing to do with any Bob Ross or original oil painting using the wet on wet technique is to apply the liquid hwite. The trick is to not apply too much. I’ve been getting better with the liquid white with each painting. Having the right amount of medium on the canvas will help lighten your value in the sky and aid in blending everything together.
I learned later that the best way to apply the liquid white is to dip your brush into the white then dab it all over the canvas. After you’ve dabbed it, then you start to spread it around. But, you don’t paint it on like you’re painting a fence. With this medium, you have to spread it around and scrub it in. Really get tough with it. Don’t worry, you’re not going to hurt your brush.
Make sure the medium is spread evenly. To do this, I use the light of the room or outdoors. For example, I look at the canvas at different angles to pick out dry spots. Bob suggests using a light gray primer on your canvas. This will make it easier to tell where you have applied the liquid white.
To check if you have applied the right amount, lightly press your fingers on different spots on the canvas. You should be able to see your fingerprint. If you can’t, then you’ve put too much on. Don’t worry. Simply take a paper towel and lightly wipe the canvas or use a clean, dry brush and go over it. The brush will pick up any excess from the canvas. The liquid white you need will remain on the surface.
Process
There really isn’t too much going on in this painting to make it complicated. The main feature in this scene is done using Bob’s basic background bush technique. I believe I used the one inch brush and a mixture of Midnight Black and Van Dyke Brown. Without the help of Bob, I had to figure out how to mix the colors I needed. If I can recall, I think it was a mixture of Indian Yellow or Yellow Ochre mixed with Dark Sienna added to Titanium White. There may even be the slightest touch of Bright Red. It took a little trial and error but I got there. However, that’s part of all the fun. Overall, it’s a simple scene but a great type to try out an original painting.
Final Thoughts
The only thing I can say about this painting is that it was fun! Didn’t turn out too bad. This would be the first but not the last painting I did inspired by Thetford. I well and truly experienced the joy of painting while doing this one. I shared the painting with the original photographer and he was quite impressed. It was well received when I posted in the group as well. I believe it was this painting that actually led to people seeing what I’ve done and eventually led to my first sale which was this one. Nothing like a little bit of success to breed confidence and then a little more success.
Like I’ve mentioned before, I’ve always wanted to paint when I was a kid. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, draw, paint, play an instrument, just try it. Don’t be afraid to fail. You will never know what you are capable of unless you try. What’s the worst you can happen?
I hope you enjoy this painting. Have a question? Comment below. Subscribe to my blog to stay up to date and be notified when a new post is live and learn more about the Bob Ross method and how far it has taken me and can take you as a new artist.
Like my first one, I still have this one and it’s hanging up in my office at work not for sale. If you want to see more of my work or see what’s for sale, check out my Art Store to see other Bob Ross replicas or another original oil painting available. You can also follow me on all my social media sites.
Happy Painting!