From the Artist: There are some lovely views to be seen on the road leading to Riebeek Kasteel, a unique, picturesque little town in the Swartland, South Africa. The acres of golden wheat and vast ranges of pale, misty mauve mountains in the distance particularly appealed to my artist's eye.
I first covered the canvas with an undercoating of raw umber, ultramarine blue and a touch of alizarin crimson and white then used a fan brush and an angle brush, together with a blend of cadmium yellow, pthalo blue, and titanium white to depict the grass and wheat and small trees and bushes in the background.
I wasn't quite sure how to tackle the mountains, as this is a subject that I have never attempted before. I would also have liked to do a little more work on the clouds in the sky, but time was running out, however, and so I still wasn't satisfied with the finished result
From the Painting Guide: I think you've got a great painting here, using the patterns and shapes that are to be found in wheat fields to create a strong composition that leads my eye across the width of the canvas and up into the mountains. I think I would've put a slight curve or bend into the diagonal running from bottom left to the right, and rounded off the triangle in the center. Being so straight it demands attention from the viewer's eye, and feels a little artificial (though I know you do get such strong straight lines in crops).
I don't think you should do anything with the clouds as the simplicity there creates an area of calm that contrasts with the foreground and middle ground where there's a lot going on. I think your mountains are very effective, but wonder if the tone should lighten slightly towards the peaks so there's a definite tonal variation between the foothills and the mountain tops. It does depend on the weather and time of day, but next time you're in the area, spend some looking at tones in the landscape (you've got the colors sorted!).
I first covered the canvas with an undercoating of raw umber, ultramarine blue and a touch of alizarin crimson and white then used a fan brush and an angle brush, together with a blend of cadmium yellow, pthalo blue, and titanium white to depict the grass and wheat and small trees and bushes in the background.
I wasn't quite sure how to tackle the mountains, as this is a subject that I have never attempted before. I would also have liked to do a little more work on the clouds in the sky, but time was running out, however, and so I still wasn't satisfied with the finished result
From the Painting Guide: I think you've got a great painting here, using the patterns and shapes that are to be found in wheat fields to create a strong composition that leads my eye across the width of the canvas and up into the mountains. I think I would've put a slight curve or bend into the diagonal running from bottom left to the right, and rounded off the triangle in the center. Being so straight it demands attention from the viewer's eye, and feels a little artificial (though I know you do get such strong straight lines in crops).
I don't think you should do anything with the clouds as the simplicity there creates an area of calm that contrasts with the foreground and middle ground where there's a lot going on. I think your mountains are very effective, but wonder if the tone should lighten slightly towards the peaks so there's a definite tonal variation between the foothills and the mountain tops. It does depend on the weather and time of day, but next time you're in the area, spend some looking at tones in the landscape (you've got the colors sorted!).