Autumn Exhibition. Painting #33. A Showcase of Seasonal Splendor.
Date painted: November 1, 2017
Size: 16 x 20 canvas
Autumn Exhibition is painting #33. Enjoy a casual stroll down the pathway overlooking a quiet pond and breathe in the cool crisp fall air in this autumn painting.
Autumn Exhibition was my second painting in a three month period. At the time, I was in the early stages of a new job and a new homeowner. Those adjustments and responsibilities had taken up a lot of time. Not to mention getting settled into the new house as well as getting used to the new location and the weather, I just didn’t have the time or energy to sit down and paint. I had to find a new rhythm and some opening in the new routines.
Let’s Get Started
This post is about my version of “Autumn Exhibition” by Bob Ross. First, I’ll talk about the inspiration for this autumn 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. Next, I will expound a bit about my process and how to paint “Autumn Exhibition” even if you are a beginner and new to oil painting with Bob Ross. 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 fifth oil painting.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for this piece was Joy of Painting episode S18E5.
I chose to do this one because I wanted to do something rather simple again just to sort of kick start that drive again. This piece gave me a good chance to work on foliage highlights as well as fill in lots of open space with one solid color and fill in grassy areas. If you just want to have fun putting a bunch of paint on the canvas, this painting is for you!
Materials Required
Here are the colors and equipment I used. Everything needed to do this painting comes with the Bob Ross Master Paint Set, with the exception of a few extra colors.
Whether you want to continue on your journey after painting your first masterpiece from the Bob Ross Master Kit DVD or painting for the first time, here are the colors and equipment you will need for this painting. The kit includes everything you need to paint this oil painting in particular as well as many other spectacular Bob Ross masterpieces. Getting this kit will eliminate the anxiety of buying the right brushes made of the right materials or the right oil paints with correct firmness or pigment ratios. Everything you need is there and ready to go.
Colors
- Alizarin Crimson
- 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
Additional Items Needed
If this is your first time oil painting, you’ll need a few essential items. 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 in this post.
How I Painted This Painting and Lessons Learned
Autumn Exhibition was my 33rd oil painting. I painted it on November 1, 2017. This post was first published in summer of 2018. Then I updated it in 2023 to add more substance and give you some more tips and encouragement to start painting. With all that being said, I have to go back and try to recall how I painted this one and the feelings associated with it. So let’s take it step by step.
Liquid White
How to apply liquid white. The first thing to do with any Bob Ross painting is to apply the liquid hwite. I have an article on how to apply the Bob Ross mediums to help you.
Sky
The sky was one of the reasons I chose to follow this episode. I wanted to try my hand at the multi-colored sky again. The sky has some nice colors in it but it’s not quite blended well enough. I may have made the same mistake happy accident as I did in Lost Lake. It also may have been that I wasn’t cautious enough or taking my time. Over the past few years, I’ve learned a few things. Avoid my sort of sky by following the tips below.
When applying the yellow part of this sky, paint in a slightly larger area than you intend to finish with. Then, when you go into the crimson, get right up on the edge of that yellow and overlap on the edge of that color. You should be able to do all this without cleaning the brush.
Trees/Bushes
One of the remarkable things about Bob Ross is his ability to create entire landscapes with just a few deft strokes of his brush. I copied his signature technique of “tap-tap-tap” to create the illusion of leaves on the trees, and it’s fascinating to watch the forest take shape right before my eyes. The trees are a blend of Van Dyke Brown and Sap Green. As I add the next layer of color, highlights and shadows develop and the forest comes to life with a sense of depth and texture brining out the autumn visuals of this painting.
Grassy Areas
The best part about painting with Bob in this episode is you get to load up the brush with Van Dyke Brown and go to town! How much fun is that!?
One of the aspects that makes Bob Ross’s technique so successful is his emphasis on layering. He often starts with a dark underpainting, gradually building layers of color, texture, and depth. Following his guidance, I began with broad strokes of Van Dyke Brown creating a base layer that would serve as the foundation for the grass. The trick for painting grass is the way the brush is loaded. Load up the brush with various yellows and green then use the tap technique very lightly. Let the paint run out as you progressively tap which will create depth then reload and continue in the same manner. Pay close attention to the way Bob does it.
Additional Tips
The path is a simple feature but an exercise in perspective. Your path should be more narrow the further back in the painting it goes and become wider as it gets closer. If you make the path a bit too wide in certain parts, simply plant some grass or bushes with your brush. You have the power to do that. In this case, my grass seed didn’t grow towards the rear of the path.
Not a whole lot to say about this one. I chose it because it gave me a good chance to work on foliage highlights as well as filling in grassy areas. I think I’m getting better at that. My foliage highlights turned out pretty decent as well. The colors are nice in this one. It helps to have all the colors of typical Bob Ross palette. I found this one to be very similar to Waterside Walk. This one turned out better though. What do you think?
Final Thoughts
The colors are nice in this one. It helps to have all the colors of a typical Bob Ross palette. The yellow ochre and Indian yellow are key to making this an autumn painting. I found this one to be very similar to Waterside Walk. This one turned out better though. What do you think?
Painting along with Bob Ross is always a pleasure. It’s a reminder that art is not just about the finished product; it’s about the process, the mindfulness, and the joy of creating something beautiful. Bob Ross’s ability to transform a blank canvas into a breathtaking landscape in under 30 minutes is a testament to his talent and his ability to inspire artists like myself.
I have this one for sale in my Art store or at the link below.
Autumn Exhibition Oil Painting
Enjoy a casual stroll down the pathway overlooking a quiet pond and breathe in the cool crisp fall air! Original landscape oil painting on a 16 x 20″ canvas.
I hope you enjoy this painting. Give this one a shot. It’s fun. 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. You can also follow me on all my social media sites.
Happy Painting!
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