Prepare the Background for a Brilliant Sunset
Bill always studied nature. It was common to find him looking at the sky or the moss on the trees. The beauty of Mother Nature moved Bill and he was motivated to capture it on canvas. Today’s Daily Video Tip shows Bill preparing the background for a brilliant sunset. Please realize that Bill loved people and he meant it when he said “I Love You!.”
Key Points To Consider:
- Bill’s favorite sizes of canvas were 16″x20″, 18″x24″, 24″x36″, and 24″x48″. Today he is painting on an 18″x24″ Canvas.
- He begins by coating the canvas with Magic White.
- Even though the canvas is coated with white he will still get vibrant colors.
- He begins with a thin coat of Permanent Red.
- As he applies the red paint to the canvas, the red paint mixes with the white on the canvas which changes the value in the brush. This gives a variety of values rather than a solid color.
- He adds Alexander Alizarin Crimson to his brush and places a darker red at the top of the canvas. He also places it where it would appear darker reflected into the water.
- Alexander Alizarin Crimson is a blue red.
- Just a reminder we don’t clean our brushes with thinner anymore.
- Without cleaning his brush, Bill picks up a speck of Phthalo Green. Well he wishes he picked up just a speck! He added a bit too much and needed to tone the color down with Cadmium Yellow and Permanent Red.
- Bill didn’t worry about making mistakes because he could easily correct anything.
- Cadmium Yellow and Permanent Red mixed together, makes a glorious bright orange.
- When Bill adds the brightness of the sky he begins where the sun would be because this is where it should appear the brightest.
- The brush mixes with the paint on the canvas and dulls the color as he goes.
Happy Painting!
Laurie and Dawn
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