The Winding River 4×6 – 15 Minute Painting Session!
Hello and welcome to another Tonal Landscape Oil Painting Demonstration. Today, I’m your painter in residence, Michael Francis McCarthy, bringing you a piece called The Wading River. This four-by-six-inch painting was completed last week and exemplifies the Tonalist style. In this demonstration, I’ll walk you through my process, color choices, and philosophies behind creating this unique work.
The Painting
The Wading River is a serene scene that captures the essence of a quiet river landscape. It’s an abstract piece, yet it retains enough clarity to convey its message without becoming overly complex. One key aspect I wanted to emphasize was the interplay between colors, specifically the contrast between green and red tones, which I introduced during the painting process.
Initially, the reference image had a reddish cast, but as I painted, I decided to incorporate more greens. This decision transformed the piece into something richer and more dynamic. The yellow sky serves as a unifying element that ties the entire composition together. By keeping the overall palette simple yet varied, I aimed to create an emotional response reflective of my initial vision.
Palette Details
The palette used in The Wading River is visible both in the video itself and at higher resolution (4K) for members on our platform. The color mixing sessions are particularly helpful for understanding how I approached different hues. These sessions provide insights into the thought process behind each color choice, especially regarding the interplay between green and red tones.
The colors used in this piece include a range of greens, reds, oranges, and yellows that come together to create depth and movement within the composition. The reference image itself wasn’t overly clear, so I worked with digital tools to enhance it and ensure it provided a solid foundation for my painting. By doing this, I was able to remove any unnecessary elements that might have cluttered the final piece.
Composition Philosophy
One of the central themes in The Wading River is composition. My philosophy centers around creating open spaces within the painting where the viewer’s eye can move freely into light or distance without obstacles. For instance, there was a large tree right up in the middle of the original reference image, but I chose to paint around it entirely, ignoring it and focusing on the river and surrounding landscape instead.
This approach allows for better flow through the piece and ensures that viewers aren’t distracted by elements that don’t contribute meaningfully to the overall composition. The use of paths, roads, or streams, such as this small river, helps guide the viewer’s eye seamlessly through the painting. I believe these elements are crucial in creating a harmonious and inviting scene.
Learning from Mistakes
In The Wading River, I intentionally avoided overusing sky holes in the trees. In the reference, there were numerous sky holes, but I decided almost none of them made it into the final piece. There are two small ones on the trees to our left and zero sky holes on the other mass. This is something we’ve discussed quite a lot on the channel over the years, too many sky holes can be a telltale sign of a less experienced painter. Less is better, as seen in the work of George Innes, John Francis Murphy, Charles Warren Eaton, and others who achieved minimalism.
Learning from mistakes and improving incrementally is key to growth as an artist. It’s important not to get immobilized by perfection or dwell on flaws too much. Each painting will have its own set of challenges, and the goal is to learn from these experiences rather than be discouraged by them.
Emotional Response and Final Thoughts
The ultimate goal with The Wading River was to capture an emotional response that reflects my initial vision for the piece. The scene isn’t overly complex but still manages to convey a sense of peace and tranquility. By keeping the composition simple yet dynamic, I aimed to create something visually appealing that resonates emotionally with viewers.
Thank you so much for joining me today. Do take care of yourself and loved ones. Until next time, continue exploring your creativity and pushing your boundaries in art. Your support means a lot, whether through likes, subscriptions, or engaging in discussions about color mixing, composition, and other aspects of painting. Stay tuned for more demonstrations and insights into the world of tonal landscape oil paintings.
Take good care of yourself. Stay out of trouble. And fight the power.
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M Francis McCarthy, Your Painter in Residence