The hardest thing about learning to paint wet-on-wet is understanding how and when to use thick or thin paint. In today’s Video Clip, Bill teaches a valuable lesson on how to create distance in his painting. Such an easy technique with wonderful results!

Key Points To Consider:

• A thin coat of Magic White® is applied to the canvas.
• Bill uses a 2 1/2″ Blending Brush to apply the paint to the canvas for the distant trees.
• He uses a darker mixture of paint (than he normally would), just so it shows up well on the canvas. Normally Bill would use a grayed-down version to show distance.
• Bill says “Distance eats up paint and details.” What he means is the eye can’t see color as well in the distance. Everything gets greyed down, the further it is from the viewer. Details get lost as well. Another thing to note is the farther away something is, the straighter it appears, both horizontally and vertically. Trees, though they might not be perfectly straight, will appear so at a distance.
• The tops of the trees appear darker because that is where Bill applies the most pressure. He bends the bristles and then slightly pulls down, applying less pressure as he goes until he lifts off the canvas completely. This creates a lighter appearance at the bottom of the trees.
• Bill changes the angle of his brush so he doesn’t repeat the same strokes always. Regardless of the angle of the brush, he always pulls straight down to create the allusion of a row of trees standing in the distance.
• He uses a clean, dry 1″ Brush to tap out the base of the trees to create mist. Notice the bristles barely bend. He pushes the paint, already applied to the canvas, into the Magic White® to create a soft, misty look.

We would love to see what you are painting! Please reply to this email and post something you are working on. Our passion is to help people learn to paint because we know that when people are painting, life is better! We are all about a better life! Let us know how we can help you become the artist that you are meant to be!

Happy Painting!

Laurie and Dawn

PS: Our Magic White® formula has changed since Bill created these videos. He hoped one day we would find a way to make his Magic White®without using thinner or toxins. It took us a long time but we found a way to do it. Our new formula is a bit thicker, is made with our “Magic Clear” and has much more pigment. (It is now a useful paint to use anytime you want to use white paint.). We know Bill would love this new formula and so will you.

PLUS: So whenever you’re ready…here are a few ways we can help you become the artist you’ve always wanted to be.

1: Join Our Membership 

Quickly become a better artist by having access to hundreds of videos led by Master Artists. You also get self-guided, step-by-step courses. And of course discounts on all our special art supplies.

Watch this video to see inside our membership.

2:  Let US guide you in our Alexander Master Class 

Quickly learn the Alexander proven way to paint starting from where you are… and we’ll lead you from there. The best thing is our Master Class is a unique series of courses with live feedback taught by Master Artist, Master Teacher, Tom Anderson. It isn’t for people who have already “Mastered” painting techniques… It is for people with the passion and desire to learn everything the Old Masters and Bill Alexander knew one baby step at a time.

Watch this video to see if Master Class is right for you.

3: Let us help you decide your next step on your art journey

Not sure how to move forward on your path to become a great artist?  Just hit reply to this message and put “Art Journey” in the subject line… tell me a little bit about your painting experience (even if you have none) and we will set up a private meeting to see if Alexander Art is a good fit for you.