Painting (10) Moonlit Path ala Bob Ross!

So… I posted the moonlit path I came up with on my own. But as per my conversation with Peter in the comments, I thought I’d share with you the new and improved version I painted after watching the beloved Bob Ross video I’ve included at the end. Just a few notes:

Bob used black and white gesso and then over painted with oils, whereas I used clear gesso to prepare my canvas before painting in acrylic. Next I used Mars black for the underpainting and then sponge painted (natural sponge) the light source with Titanium white. I did use a foam brush for my tree trunks and followed Bob’s technique for painting in the branches and highlighted undergrowth. I decided to stop at that point and leave it as a black and white painting. As I have discovered in other attempts, oil painting techniques don’t always translate to acrylic. Nevertheless, even if you don’t paint, this video is sure to make you happy! First, here is my painting:

Here is the master:

Painting (9) Moonlit Path

This is one of those paintings that started out being one thing and finished as something else. It’s really just a practice piece for painting the lights and shadows that are created with a single light source in an otherwise dark landscape. Another better version is in the works…

Painting (8) Withered Thistle

I follow a series of painting tutorials on YouTube: Painting With Jane. Her moody Surrealist pieces always end up being my favorites. I try not to copy them exactly so as to make the art my own. This is my version of a withering flower against a stormy sky: