Meadow Brook Surprise. Oil Painting #6. No Stopping Now.
Meadow Brook Surprise
Date Painted: January 17, 2017
Size: 16 x 20 Canvas
“In nature, dead trees are just as normal as live trees.” -Bob Ross
Meadow Brook Surprise is my sixth oil painting. Vacation was over. It was time to go back to work. Not only that, but I had run out of canvases. My new hobby had to be put on hold…for now. I still had plenty of supplies from my Bob Ross kit but no canvases to paint on.
During that time I was still watching Bob Ross. I think I was going season by season. That’s when I came across a painting of a timid little brook winding its way through a golden grassland created by Bob Ross’ precise, but easy-to-learn technique. Once those canvases came in, I was back at it with Meadow Brook Surprise.
Let’s Get Started
This post is about my version of Meadow Brook Surprise 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. Next, I will expound a bit about my process and how to paint Meadow Brook Surprise even if you are a beginner and new to 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 sixth oil painting.
The Inspiration
The inspiration for this piece was Joy of Painting episode S14E2. There were a few reasons why I chose this episode to follow. I liked the colors of the background. I thought the dark purple trees were a cool feature. Bob makes them seem so distant and misty. I was looking forward to using that color for the trees. It seemed simple enough and I wanted to try a different tree and trunk highlighting technique, the ones in the foreground. I thought the little stream would be cool too.
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 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 (included in the master kit)
- Alizarin Crimson
- Cadmium Yellow
- Midnight Black
- Phthalo Blue
- Sap Green
- Titanium Hwite
- Van Dyke Brown
- Don’t forget the Liquid Hwite!
Additional Colors (not included in the kit)
Equipment
There are a couple colors Bob uses that are not included in the kit so I couldn’t use them. These colors are not critical to this painting’s composition. The reason I list them under a separate heading is because I completed this painting without those. They are listed as additional colors that you need to get if you want to paint it just like Bob Ross.
For example, he uses a bit of yellow ochre for some little foliage highlights along the brook.. You can barely tell. Bob also uses some Prussian Blue in the dark color to make the foreground trees. That’s not really necessary either. If you want a bit of a blue flavor, simply add a touch of the Pthalo Blue. Otherwise, the black and brown mixed with the purple mixture will produce a dark enough color for the trees.
Additional Items to Get Started
If this is your first time 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 however.
Canvas
Stretched canvas is optimal here. You can paint on many surfaces but if you’re just getting started, I advise you to go with a basic stretched canvas. Most already come ready to paint on right out of the packaging. Above all, avoid canvas boards with this technique.
Easel
You’ll want a sturdy easel to hold your painting surface. The kit I mentioned above does include a carrying case which I used as a makeshift easel. Beware if you do this, however. The canvas is not secure. You could also lay the canvas flat on a desk or table. With that being said, you don’t require an easel but it sure makes life easier!
Palette
The kit I keep mentioning over and over? There’s a reason. It really is a great starter kit to kick start your new painting hobby. You’ll need something to squeeze your paint onto. The kit comes with a small wooden palette. You can squeeze the paint directly onto it. However, if you want to keep your palette clean and smooth, you can put some palette paper on it. If you don’t have the kit, you can use paper plates or a piece of glass or Plexiglas. However, I highly suggest not using paper plates and use a hard flat surface. Therefore, a nice large palette will be useful.
Odorless Paint Thinner
The only small drawback with oil painting is the solvents required. You need to clean your brushes and odorless paint thinner or odorless mineral spirits work the best. To keep it contained, you’ll need a bucket. The Bob Ross company has the perfect thing. This bucket and screen combo will keep your thinner contained and secure. Surely after you clean your two inch brush, you’ll want to beat the devil out of it! But you certainly don’t want to do that in your home. Bob comes through again with a brush beater rack. Put this inside a box or waste basket and you can beat the devil to your heart’s content!
Before We Begin
Every Bob Ross painting begins by covering the canvas with a medium. In most paintings he starts off with the medium known as Liquid White. Liquid White is a thin, fluid paint. Much thinner than the normal oil paint. This makes it easy to apply and mix with other colors right on the canvas.
I’ve watched every single Bob Ross episode and there is only one where he demonstrates the application of Liquid White. Yet, he does not explain exactly how to apply it. Well, I’m here to help.
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. I’ve been getting better with the liquid with each painting. 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. But, 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
This is one sky you really can’t mess up. Well, you sort of can if you don’t blend it enough. I didn’t have that problem this time. If you leave some lighter spots in the sky and just blend them all together, it will give you a beautifully effective sky. That’s what happened in my case. I can’t remember if those little gaps were intentional or not. It could have been a happy accident. Either way, it worked out great in my opinion. What do you think?
Background Trees
I love the effect of the background trees. To me, they seem rather large and epic. Especially when you put some of those smaller tree effects in front of them. I think my background came out pretty good. My only gripe and tip for you is to make sure you got all the way across the canvas. In my early stages of painting, I’d be so focused on following Bob Ross that I’d leave little patches of negative space. Unless you’re absolutely certain that you’ll cover it up, try to mind where your background features go.
Foreground Trees
Now here are some different trees! These trees are part of the reason I chose this episode to paint. They’re relatable trees. We’ve all seen trees like this I’m sure. The trees that don’t look complete, as if someone chopped off a few branches during its upward growth. In fact, they really don’t look like happy trees!
These trees and the highlighted trees are simple to make. It’s as simple as loading the fan brush up with paint, turning it vertical and tapping as you go down. Just like painting the foliage, tap a bit harder as you go down. With the trees in the front, add a little more brown to your color and do the same thing.
Painting the trees in this manner gives it a natural, rough look. Highlighting the front trees is simple as well and adds to that natural look. The highlights imply that there’s an opening to the meadow that only hits these trees leaving the background trees cast in a deep shadow. This gives your painting more depth.
Grassy Areas
Looking back, I think another reason I chose this painting is because of the large grassy area. I wasn’t satisfied with how I painted the grass in my previous two paintings. This painting gave me the opportunity to give it another go. Well, I don’t think I improved all that much. I think the texture was fine however, I once again left too many shadow areas.
I did manage to get some color variation despite not having the other yellow colors. Adding just a touch of the bright red gave it a bit of different flavor in parts. Careful though. Red and green mixed makes brown. Of course there’s nothing wrong with brown grass in a painting but just beware in case that’s not what you’re going for.
The Stream
This feature is a fun little devil to paint. If it wasn’t in the title of the painting, you wouldn’t know that Bob would be painting a brook at some point during this painting. Then right at the end, he sneaks it in. When I first saw the episode, I knew I had to try it. I love the technique he used to paint it yet it was not as easy as he made it seem. Of course not! He’s Bob Ross!
Knowing that there is indeed a little meadow brook painted, here’s a little tip to hopefully make it less painful than it was for me. First, leave that blank negative space like Bob does. The less layers of paint the better here. When you scrub in the brown, try to make it very thin. You can do that one of two ways.
You can do it like Bob with the knife. If you do that, be sure to use the firm pressure he talks about in the video. You really want that paint absorbed into the canvas. Or, you can use the fan brush. This will give you an even thinner layer of paint. The thinner the layer, the easier it will be to paint in the water.
TIP!
Here’s a personal preference tip that I can give after painting for a couple more years after this. Remember, I said that a thin layer is key. In the video, Bob goes ahead and adds a little highlight to the path. In my opinion, that’s another layer of paint you now have to go over with the water layer. Bob is doing this for effect on the show. I don’t think it’s necessary. You can always go back and add a little highlight to the edge of the stream later.
Now, time to add the brook. The key here is adding liquid white to your titanium white and just a hint of blue. Add the water using very light strokes and gently wipe your brush off on a paper towel before reloading the brush. These small steps will pay off immensely. Keep the paint thin and the brush clean of the under color. Pay attention to the way Bob paints in his stream.
Final Thoughts
Aside from that glaring blank spot on the right, I like this painting overall. I’m not a huge fan of the little branches I added to the foreground trees. I tried to copy Bob in this case. Copying in my early paintings is how I learned. I’m not a personal fan of this style of branch.
This one was painted after a sort of gap between prolific periods. Once I ran out of canvases, I had to take a break. This is the second painting in a row where I didn’t put in a mountain. I think that is because I was running out of Titanium white. I didn’t expect to paint so much and enjoy it so much. The break allowed me to watch more Bob and build up some more ideas while I waited for more canvases and more paint/supplies.
My early paintings are categorized in mini phases, so to speak. These mini phases coincide with my canvas orders. I would order sets of 5 canvases. Once I went through them, I’d have to take a break until the new order came in. This painting was the first one of mini phase two.
Your Thoughts?
I eventually gave this one to my sister as a gift. She liked it because of the color. What do you like about it? This is a nice, simple painting to do if you’re trying it for the first time. Give it a shot. 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. Check out my Art Store to see other paintings for sale. You can also follow me on all my social media sites.
Happy Painting!