The Path. Painting #47. A Monochrome Acrylic Landscape

Some roads don’t lead anywhere—they just remind us where we’ve been. A splash of color in a field of calm, this monochrome acrylic landscape explores value and texture. The Path is painting #47.

Let’s Get Started

This post is about my original oil painting, The Path. 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 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 47th overall oil painting.

The Inspiration

The concept came from a photo I saw online, where the photographer edited it so that most of the image was black and white, leaving just one splash of color. I thought that would make for a compelling painting using a similar technique as Rays of Sunshine. My twist? I added the color only to the tire tracks, leaving the foliage black and white. No Bob Ross episode was referenced at all.

Materials Used

Here are the colors and equipment I used to paint a monochrome acrylic landscape. I only used black, white, and whatever red color came from the basic set I had laying around. 

Colors

Black Acrylic

White Acrylic

Red Acrylic 

Or you could just buy a whole basic set. 

Equipment

I used brushes from a cheap, basic variety pack. Foam brushes are also a great tool to play with in this type of painting. Used to cover more area but are useful for many different effects. I also used a paper towel much like in Rays of Sunshine. 

Notes from the Easel

These black and white paintings are challenging—but a lot of fun. They take longer than my traditional oil pieces since I have to let layers dry between passes. The painting itself doesn’t take long, but acrylics require patience. Unlike oils, they behave differently on the canvas and they dry fast, so there’s always some trial and error.

This was also my first time experimenting with brushes beyond my usual Bob Ross set. With acrylics, those brushes don’t quite work the same way, so testing out new tools was part of the fun—and part of the learning curve. The good thing about fast drying acrylics is that it’s easy to cover up any mistakes happy accidents. 

Monochromatic paintings are great exercises in using value. You’d think two colors would make painting easier, but depth is hard to achieve without contrast and precision. That’s where the color splash comes in—just a touch of pigment in the tire tracks to break the grayscale and catch the eye.

There was plenty of trial and error involved because I used a basic acrylic set—not my usual medium or colors, but good enough to play with. Since I’ve only been painting for a few years and have no formal art training, my process usually involves learning on the fly or checking out tutorials online. I probably need to pick up a small plastic palette knife too—acrylics mix differently than oils, and the right tools make a difference.

Final Thoughts

This monochrome acrylic landscape was a joy to paint, and I’m pleased with how it turned out. It got a great response, and the coolest part was how differently everyone interpreted it. I got a lot of questions about what the splash of color represents. That’s up to you. What do you see in this painting? Feel free to comment below. Give something like this a shot. It’s fun trying something new. 

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to explore more of my site for creative insights and stories. You can also connect with me on my socials—I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Painting!