I took this photograph last summer while holidaying in Wharfedale, Derbyshire. Thirteen years earlier I proposed to my wife at the Inn not more than two hundred yards from this spot.

I’m always on the lookout for a simple subject that will be more appropriate for the beginner, mainly because much of my work can be complex, thus better tuned to the more experienced painter. No landscape is easy. They all require a confident use of multiple techniques along with an understanding of composition and how to mix the subtle colours. Although the same is true of this tutorial, the scene itself is a snippet of a larger scene and therefore less complicated and involved. I would put this tutorial firmly in the beginner to intermediate category.

Happy Painting,
Michael

Difficulty: Intermediate
Painting Size: 10 x 15
Brushes used in this lesson: Michael James Smith Professional Brush Set

In August 2019 Michael switched brush manufacturers and as a result the series numbers/names are different in some of the lessons. In order to be able to complete the lessons regardless of which set you’re using we have put together a chart which lists the equivalent brushes from both sets.

Acrylic paints used in this lesson:
Titanium White
Cadmium Orange
Sap Green
Ivory Black
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cobalt Blue
Burnt Umber

Oil paints used in this lesson:
Titanium White
Dioxazine Purple
Cobalt Blue
Sap Green
Burnt Umber
Cadmium Yellow Light
French Ultramarine
Phthalo Green (Yellow shade)
Burnt Sienna
Ivory Black

Thinner:
White Spirit