Oil on 11″ wood slab
Date Painted: May 23, 2020
A Quick Note Before We Begin
It’s hard to believe how much time has passed since the last full painting entry on this blog. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know it originally began as a chronological journal of my painting journey, while providing some instructional tips and breaking down the inspiration, materials, techniques, and lessons learned from every piece.
Halo Reach, Painting #100, was finished over six years ago, and in that time my life, my studio, and my art have all gone through some major changes. I’ve moved across the country, twice, rebuilt my workflow, refined my style, and stepped into a far more confident, explorative, and professional era of my art journey. The blog itself went through a big revision, and somewhere in the middle of all that, the momentum slipped away.
Rather than let that stall the story, I’m shifting the tone slightly as we move forward. The posts will still follow the general structure you’re used to, but they’ll lean more into reflection, narrative, and what I remember about each piece, especially as I work through the backlog leading up to the present chapter. Think of it as the blog evolving along with me.
With that said, let’s pick the thread back up right where we left off: Painting #100, Halo Reach.
This post marks a milestone — my 100th finished oil painting. Unlike most of the pieces leading up to it, this one wasn’t done on canvas but on an 11″ wood slab I picked up from one of the big box art stores. I’d painted on alternative surfaces before, but this still felt like a fun shift and a fitting choice for something a little more dramatic.
I will follow the familiar format I’ve used throughout the blog, but it also represents a turning point. As the timeline moves forward, the posts will gradually shift toward a more reflective, narrative style, especially as I revisit older pieces from memory. But for now, let’s dive into Halo Reach, Painting #100.
The Inspiration for Halo Reach
I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I decided to paint this scene, but at some point I came across that massive split mountain from Halo Reach. With the dramatic sky, towering rock face, and clouds curling around the base, I knew I had to paint it. This was also, if memory serves, my third Halo‑inspired piece, so it felt like a natural continuation of that little series. The challenge of getting Master Chief’s silhouette just right was my only apprehension but a challenge worth accepting.
Materials Needed
Surface
Mediums
Colors
- Alizarin Crimson
- Bright Red
- Cadmium Yellow
- Dark Sienna
- Indian Yellow
- Midnight Black
- Phthalo Blue
- Sap Green
- Titanium Hwite
- Van Dyke Brown
- Yellow Ochre
Equipment
Techniques
Painting on wood is a different experience from canvas. The surface doesn’t flex, it grabs paint differently, and it has a natural texture that influences the final look. For this piece, that worked in my favor, especially for the mountain and sky.
The Mountain & Sky
The mountain was built up with heavy knife work, using dark values first and then pulling highlights across the split to give it that iconic Reach silhouette. The undercolor grabbed some highlight creating midtone values that really gave the mountain some detail and depth. Then I added just a kiss of further highlight with a mixture of cad yellow and bright red which was the same color I used in the sky near the horizon. The sky was all about mood: deep blues, blacks, and grays blended into a stormy, dramatic atmosphere, pushing down the warm sunset. The base of the mountain fades into clouds, which helps soften the transition and add depth. To enhance this effect, use the classic Bob Ross mountain technique of tapping the base of the mountain then gently pulling up with 3 hairs and some air before adding the clouds.
Moving Forward into the Grass
This was my proudest moment in the entire painting. A single knife stroke of Yellow Ochre created a subtle highlight in the distant grass creating dramatic shadows, and then I layered brighter touches as the foreground came forward. It added just enough realism and depth to anchor the silhouette and pull the viewer’s eye into the scene.
Master Chief
Master Chief is just a silhouette here. A tiny touch of highlight along the armor edge was enough to define him without breaking the mood.
Final Thoughts
Painting #100 felt like a milestone in more ways than one. It pushed me creatively and gave me a chance to experiment with mood, scale, and texture in a way that I hadn’t before with standard Bob Ross studies.
This piece sold quickly, just as I suspected it would, but it remains one of my favorites from that period. It also marks the beginning of a shift in my artistic journey, using temperature, without realizing it, to enhance mood and depth.
If you have questions about this piece or want to see more of my work, feel free to explore the gallery, browse the shop, or reach out through the contact form. And if you’re interested in learning wet‑on‑wet painting yourself, I’m beginning to offer virtual lessons.Just send me a message and we can talk about what you’d like to learn. Stay inspired and Happy Painting!
