Hideaway Cove. Painting #43. Sharing My Artistic Journey with Family

Take a stroll down to that perfect little fishing spot tucked away from the world, in a hideaway cove and relish the beauty of the day!

Let’s Get Started

This post is about my painting of Hideaway Cove. 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 chose a Bob Ross or other artist tutorial 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 43rd painting.

The Inspiration

This piece holds a special place in my heart as it was created during my parents’ first visit to my home after living overseas for an extended period. One evening, we were watching Bob Ross, and they expressed a desire to see me paint in person.

Inspired by Season 25, Episode 1 of “The Joy of Painting,” I decided to recreate the episode’s painting for them.

Materials Needed

Surface

16×20 stretched canvas. Or any size that works for you really.

Mediums

Liquid hwhite.

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

Equipment

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

Techniques

This episode showcases various techniques without focusing on any particular feature. Bob Ross also introduced a unique method for painting distant tall trees using the two-inch brush, which I found fascinating.

Sky

The sky consisted of a gradient starting with cad yellow, blending into bright red, then adding some phatho blue and alizarin crimson mixed on the brush. The upper corners were finished off with some prussian blue. As with any Bob Ross sky, the colors are reflected down below for any water features that may appear. The whole sky was painted without washing the brush until all the color was applied. After you get the color, wash the brush or take a clean brush and blend it all together starting in the yellow and working your way out to the blues.

Mountain

The mountain base is painted using the standard Ross technique by mixing a combination of dark colors, typically browns, blues and crimson. It doesn’t really matter in this case. In more advanced oil painting, the color combination will matter. However, for the beginner, the color combination is not a concern. Just make it dark. Experiment. 

The highlights in this one are a bit different. In a typical Bob Ross painting, the light source comes from the right side making the mountain highlights appear on the right side of the mountain. In this one, Bob makes the light source some from the left giving us a chance to practice applying highlights from a different direction. 

The highlight color is a bit different than typical Bob Ross highlights. By mixing in some of the lower sky color with titanium white, we achieve a highlight that reflects the sky. Add just a touch of white on top of that layer in places to really make them pop. The shadow color is basically the same color with a bit of the mountain base color mixed in.

Trees

The background trees are painted using the fan brush and some of the purple color mixed with white. Simply hold the fan brush vertically and angle it so the top edge touches the canvas and apply light pressure. 

Bob Ross introduces a new technique to paint trees. First he mixes up a bunch of the dark colors including Pthalo green. Then, using the two inch brush, pull it through that color on both sides and wiggle it rapidly side to side. Next, pull the brush through the color to “sharpen it to a fine edge. To paint the trees is super simple. Holding the brush vertically, tap that sharpened edge to the canvas where you want your trees then push to the side. Do this in the left and right direction to create distant trees sort of like Italian Cypress. 

On the right side you see some evergreen trees. These were created using the two inch brush similar to the previous technique discussed. Only this time turn the brush horizontal and use the corner to create the branch shapes. Don’t forget to go over your trees with a mix of cad yellow and sap green for the highlights. 

Final Thoughts

I particularly enjoyed creating the multicolored sky and experimenting with different angles for the mountain highlights. In my version of the trees painted with the new technique, I don’t think I pressed hard enough with the brush causing them to appear very light or incomplete. I am pleased with how my mountains turned out. 

I hope you enjoy “Hideaway Cove” as much as I enjoyed painting it. Give it a try yourself and share your results with me. 

This painting was gifted to a family member. You can get other paintings for yourself in my shop. I’d love to earn your follow on my various social media sites. Thank you for visiting my website and feel free to comment below with any questions or thoughts. Happy Painting!

Happy Painting!