For this lesson, we’re stepping just outside my house to paint a scene I’ve sketched a few time — my neighbour’s old, ruined barn set against a sweeping mountain backdrop.
It’s one of those quietly beautiful places that reveals more the longer you look. The barn itself is full of character: crumbling stone, weathered timbers, and all kinds of old “junk” tucked inside that adds story, texture, and visual interest. Framing the building is a large, bare winter walnut tree, its branches reaching up and out, creating a strong, expressive shape against the sky.
Beyond the barn, the landscape opens up into layers. Snowy mountains sit softly in the far distance, forests and fields stretch across the middle ground, and closer to us we have brambles, grasses, and rough winter growth weaving through the foreground. It’s a scene with depth, atmosphere, and plenty to explore — perfect for slowing down and really enjoying the process.
This is a longer, more detailed lesson
Designed for more confident painters who enjoy building a painting in stages. I encourage you to paint large for this one, giving yourself space to work into the shapes, textures, and tonal variations without feeling cramped. A bigger surface makes it easier to suggest complexity while keeping your brushwork loose and expressive.
The lesson is broken into two parts.
In part one, we focus on establishing the foundations of the painting: the sky, the distant mountains, the mid-ground landscape, and the foreground. We’ll think carefully about tonal values, soft versus firm edges, and how to create a sense of depth through layering and temperature shifts.
In part two, we return to the painting to bring everything together. This is where we develop the barn, the walnut tree, and all the smaller details that give the scene its character — strengthening contrast, refining shapes, and adding those final touches that help the painting feel complete.
This is very much a process-driven lesson, and I encourage you to take your time, pause when you need to, and enjoy watching your painting gradually come to life.
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