Mountain River. Painting #41. Use Happy Accidents to Your Advantage.

Mountain River is my 41st painting. Relax as the perfect picnic spot emerges from paint filled brushes – quiet peaks on a tranquil lake and luscious green velvety grass.

Inspiration for Mountain River

Created during a period when I resumed painting regularly, Mountain River was inspired by Bob Ross’s techniques from “The Joy of Painting” (Season 19, Episode 2). At the time, I was continuing with my Bob Ross binge on YouTube. 31 seasons of painting videos takes a long time to get through! This piece allowed me to experiment with various techniques and colors. When this painting came up I decided to give it a go for three reasons.

• I wanted to try out the partial black gesso canvas again.
• I wanted to try a different cloud technique.
• I wanted to try a different color mountain with a different color highlight and shadow.

Colors and Equipment Used.

Colors

• Alizarin Crimson
• Bright Red
• Cadmium Yellow
• Dark Sienna
• Indian Yellow
• Midnight Black
• Phthalo Blue
• Phthalo Green
• Prussian Blue
• Sap Green
• Titanium Hwite
• Van Dyke Brown
• Yellow Ochre
• Don’t forget the Liquid Hwite!

Equipment

• • Black Canvas (optional if you don’t want to use the black gesso)

• 2 Inch Brush
• 1 Inch Brush
• #6 Fan Brush
• Large Palette Knife
• Script Liner Brush
• Filbert Brush

Techniques and Process

I chose this painting to explore four specific techniques:

1. Partial Black Gesso Canvas: This technique involved using a black gesso undercoat, which led to a unique landmass and added stones due to a “happy accident.”
2. Cloud Technique: I experimented with a new method for creating clouds by leaving open spaces in the sky and blending the Titanium White into the sky.
3. Mountain Highlights: I practiced highlighting mountains with different colors, aiming to achieve a unique look for the highlights and shadows.
4. Two Inch Brush: I used the two inch brush to create the trees as opposed to the fan brush technique that is common as well as highlighting the grassy foreground. That is something that I always struggle with. The key is a thin highlight color and light pressure in the application.

Outcome and Reflection While my painting differs slightly from Bob Ross’s original, I am pleased with the results, particularly the non-snow-capped mountains. The cloud technique proved simple yet effective, and the practice with highlights was invaluable.

Conclusion I hope you enjoyed reading about “Mountain River” and feel inspired to try it yourself. If you do, please share your results with me. If you enjoy my blog, consider sharing it with your friends. This painting ended up as a gift to a family member. If you’d like a painting like this for yourself, I have a shop where you can acquire some of my artwork for yourself or as a gift for the happy tree lover in your life.

Happy painting!