Some paintings seem to glow with an inner warmth. How do they do that? Turns out it’s not rocket science, but it does take a little planning. This demo is in acrylics, but it’s fine for oils too. In the following pages, I’ll be offering critiques for the students who submitted their wonderful artwork for this workshop.

Richard Robinson, Rangiputa, acrylic on canvas, 15 x 15" (38 x 38 cm)

A view of the beach in Rangiputa, New Zealand.

 

A slightly wider beach view.

 

Student critiques

A Walk to the Beach, oil on wood panel, 12 x 12" (30 x 30 cm)  Louise Villegas

Wow, some really vibrant color in here Louise, and you’ve made it so inviting with your trademark soft edges and simplified shapes. One thing I would like you to consider here is the hue and value contrast between the light gray clouds on the right and the sky around them. There’s a discord there that can be mended by warming that gray up. Another small note: the light stalks in the foreground could do with ore variety in thickness, length and angle. We have to stay vigilant against pattern making, and this is one of those areas where it’s easy to let that happen. Overall this is great work, Louise, and it’ll certainly brighten up a room.

A walk to the beach, acrylic on canvas 

Deborah Calow

Hey Deborah, you’ve done well in maintaining the warm light throughout the painting, though it could do with a little more neutral gray in the shadow planes to add more variety. I especially love the way you’ve added texture and detail in the foreground, which pulls the viewer right into the painting. Beware of adding straight drawn lines in a landscape painting like the one on your horizon as it smacks of something man-made and draws the attention where it’s not warranted. The grasses are really the star of the show. Overall, this is a great piece that shows your strong sense of color and brushwork—keep at it!

Walk to the beach

Dawn Grondin

Hi Dawn, nice color contrasts here between warms and cools, but that is avoiding the point of the exercise, which was to remove those cool colors from your palette in order to create a harmonious warmth overall. Still, you’ve got a nice transition from dark to light and large to small in the foreground, giving a great sense of depth and movement with your brushwork. You might also want to try using a ruler or masking tape for getting your horizon level and straight, and do be careful to avoid the shine off your painting when photographing it. Hope that helps some. I look forward to seeing your next one.

A Walk to the Beach, after Richard Robinson, acrylic on canvas board 

Rachel Chard

Rachel, you’ve made a more peaceful and subdued scene here by removing the punchy oranges I tried and simplifying and softening the elements. The warmth of the light has been spread through the painting nicely, and that holds it all together. One area you could refine is the value range in the foreground grasses. Adding more shadow tones and highlights would help bring out the texture and make them feel more dynamic. You might add a little gray/green to the trees to harmonize them with the foreground, too. Also, and this may just be the angle of the photo, but make sure your horizon is always level and straight. Overall, this is a delightful painting, and you’re capturing the mood so well. Keep building on this great foundation!

Rangiputa, acrylic on stretched canvas, 15¾ x 15¾" (40 x 40 cm) 

Adana Virna

Hi Adana, this is such a lovely, warm depiction of Rangiputa! The glow of the sunlight spilling over the scene is beautifully captured, and I especially love the way you’ve infused the grasses with vibrant oranges and reds; it really brings the painting to life. Your brushwork has a lively, playful energy, particularly in the foreground, which adds a sense of movement and texture. One thing to consider is to darken the clouds a little on the right as they move further away from the sun, as that can really enhance the illusion of strong light. Making your dark areas stronger and larger in the foreground can also help with the feeling of strong shadows cast by strong light. Overall, you’ve created a wonderfully inviting scene—keep it up!

Congratulations and thanks to everyone who entered a painting into the workshop. Great work!  —

About Your Tutor

Richard Robinson is one of New Zealand’s premier outdoor painters. You can view his extensive online lessons at mypaintingclub.com.