Purple Splendor. Painting #15. A Simple, Happy Painting You Can Do.
Purple Splendor
Date Painted: February 26, 2017
Size: 16 x 20 canvas
“Let’s just go right in here and begin dropping in some happy little trees and bushes and let’s just see them flow off your brush”. – Bob Ross
Purple Splendor is my 15th painting. In this winter scene, cabin and snow are virtually undisturbed and the evergreens are full. I remember the time when I painted Purple Splendor. I actually had planned to try my first seascape painting but I pushed it back in order to do this one instead. Find out why below.
Let’s Get Started
This post is about my version of Purple Splendor by Bob Ross. 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 15th oil painting.
The Inspiration for Purple Splendor
I painted Purple Splendor for one reason and one reason only. I had signed up for a small craft fair in town and they were looking for donations for their raffle to raise money for a charity. The charity for this event was Crones and Colitis charity. The color theme for that one is purple so what better scene to paint than Purple Splendor. So I painted it and donated it to the raffle.
For this one I followed along with Joy of Painting episode S4E1.
Materials
Here are the colors and equipment I used to paint Purple Splendor. All of the colors are included with the Bob Ross Master Paint Set.
Colors
Equipment
As you can see, you don’t need many colors. The limited palette of colors comes in the Bob Ross Master Kit if you still have those colors left over.
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.
For more items and materials you may need, check out my Getting Started page.
Before We Begin/Liquid White
How to apply liquid white. The first thing to do with any Bob Ross painting is to apply the liquid hwite. The trick is to not apply too much. At the time of this painting, I had not mastered the liquid white trick. I may have put just a tad too much on in some places. 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. However, 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. 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. The liquid white you need will remain on the surface.
How I Painted This Painting and Lessons Learned
Sky
There’s not much I can say about the sky in Purple Splendor. There are no clouds to add, but of course you certainly may add them if you wish. It’s your world. When the sky is a single color, vary the amount of pressure you apply with the two inch brush. Keep the brush moving all around the canvas using the little criss cross strokes Bob talks about. This will add a bit of variation and interest to your sky overall and give it more depth.
As Bob shows in the video, the colors to mix to make the sky color are alizarin crimson and phthalo blue, much more crimson than blue. The best part however is that you can vary the tone of this color. If you want it more to the crimson side, keep adding crimson until you get the value you desire. Same thing if you want it more blue. It doesn’t take much blue though. Have fun with this. It’s a great way to practice value mixing. You really can’t go wrong.
Distant Trees
I hope you mixed up a big ole pile of paint because we’re going to use the same color we used or the sky. Using the fan brush, go into the color, maybe add a bit of white. It’s up to you and how light or dark you want those trees. The key to making these background trees off in the distance is to load up the fan brush, turn the brush vertically then tip the handle up to about 30-45 degrees. Using the tip of the brush, you’re going to push and very slightly pull down. Try to watch Bob closely and watch what he does to get a better idea.
As you’re putting in those distant trees, try to pay attention to the pattern or shape you’re making. The tip of the brush is your guide and will shape the tree line. Use longer strokes to bring the trees closer and shorter strokes to push them back. Remember to use the two inch brush and tap the bottom of the tree line to create some mist. This distant tree line technique is common in Bob Ross style landscapes. Purple Splendor is a great painting to get some of that practice in.
Snow
Snow is pretty simple and quite therapeutic to paint. Initially, the snow is going to pick up some of that undercolor you laid down at the beginning. This is important for shadows. After the first layer, wipe off the brush and go back into your white with just a hint of blue. Add some of that fresh paint in spots where you think light would hit but think about the lay of the land. The clean white will create highlights and depth.
Foreground Trees
By this point in my painting journey, I hadn’t mastered the happy trees. Some were better than others for sure but I lacked consistency. In this one, I feel like my trees lacked shape. It’s like the width is the same all the way down. My branches didn’t stand out. Looking back with more experience, I can tell what went wrong.
I think where I went wrong was that I was basically just filling in color within a rough tree shape. I didn’t let the brush do the work. If you look closely you can see the branches basically look like the tip of the fan brush. It appears that I didn’t use enough pressure on the way down. What should happen is you should use the corner of the fan brush while alternating sides and using more and more pressure on the way down the imaginary trunk. This will give your trees a bit more shape and interest. They will look like happy little trees!
Cabin
What is the cabin chance in this painting? 100%! I’ve stated in previous posts that I never really cared much for the occasional cabin Bob sometimes adds to his paintings. I’ve also been apprehensive of trying them. Well for this one, I felt it actually needed the cabin. Other paintings you could easily get away without putting in a cabin and it looks totally fine. I felt that there was a bit too much empty space and it needed a little something extra. So I got brave and painted the cabin.
Cabins aren’t all that hard. The knife does most of the work. It’s important to keep perspective in mind. With the angles that Bob usually paints cabins, remember that the far end should be shorter than the closer end. It took me forever to realize that! I couldn’t figure out what I was getting wrong. My cabins always looked square and wonky. I say all that but my first cabin didn’t turn out all that bad. I’ve done worse!
Final Thoughts
Purple Splendor is not very difficult and you can do it in a different color if you wanted. It’s a great painting to get your feet wet and doesn’t require a lot of colors. Very low threat. This painting is all about value. I might do another color version of this in the future.
I hope you enjoy this painting. Give it a shot yourself then share a link to a photo of your rendition. 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 can take you as a new artist. This painting was donated to a raffle. If you want to see more of my work or see what’s for sale, check out my Art Store to see other paintings available. You can also follow me on all my social media sites.
Happy Painting!