3 Techniques to Enrich Your Painting

Last week I showed my thinking behind this image. Some drawings, the tilting of the ground plane.
This week I paint it. First a block in. Then enriching that block in.
The three techniques I talk about are:
1. How much you can know about. In this case, an island. Just by painting in simple shapes of warm sunlit color against cool dark shadows.
2. Massing an area in a general mid value for an area in the block in and then painting lights and darks into that to finish it..
3. Keeping the shapes flat and simple in the block in and then carving back into that shapes to finish it.
I do hope you find it helpful.
Here's the link to join my email list so you receive these videos weekly to your inbox: www.ianroberts.com/e-learning...
My website: www.ianroberts.com/
Facebook page: / ianrobertsartist
Instagram @ianrobertsartist: / ianrobertsartist

[@lorrainedespres3129]

I have received your book,I will never look at a landscapes in the same way again,thank you.

[@randyme2151]

They way you reduce the subject matter down to an interplay between shapes and color, there is a amazing complexity in its simplicity. I love it.

[@dutchamericanman]

This has an “If Hopper Made A Landscape” vibe after the 1st block in. I get so much from your videos. Thank you!

[@ASharma66]

My entire approach to painting has changed since I came across your channel. Thank you, for sharing your experiences.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Aarti, that warms my heart. Thank you for telling me. Best wishes.

[@song4night]

you're the best art teacher I found on youtube among the crowds of teachers. Thank you so much!

[@grandpa_eric]

I like when you used the word “modulate.” The last time I heard that was from Rudy Zallinger, painter of The Age of Reptiles, 1947, as he instructed me in 1977 in the use of egg tempera.

[@jamespinderphotoman]

So grateful to have come across your videos. You're a superb teacher and an even better painter!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much!

[@jamespinderphotoman]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Just purchased your book too from a UK seller. Look forward to reading it.

[@reynacolombo3538]

Ian, your videos never disappointment me, I have learned a ton from you.. Thank you for your generosity, I constantly, try to keep your principles when I paint.

[@shirleykenyon4909]

So happy I found you on utube. I’m learning so much. Thank you.

[@lanaschuster7630]

This was such an excellent teaching video. Clearly demonstrated with you telling us so much about what, how and why you’re doing it, even the script at the bottom helps. And it’s not too long. I love watching the demos of the larger paintings Ian. This is perfect, thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Lana. Glad you found it helpful. All the best.

[@maxfieldbloom4803]

What are you painting on?

[@plzimmer]

Ian, you are such a gifted teacher, your communication skills both graphically and verbally can only be admired. thank you for all you do.

[@robinmcewan7390]

Bravo! Sometimes I look at your finished paintings and think “i will never be able to have my work be so subtle yet speak volumes” But I am blessed to be able to enjoy your work!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Robin, I have the same feeling about some painters myself. But I do appreciate your telling me. All the best.

[@karenfox9982]

Learnt more in 6weeks with ians advice than i did in a year at art school!🥰. Thanks so much

[@janewong4862]

thank you for showing how to do the block-in!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're very welcome Jane

[@michaelfuerst4576]

Can you list the three techniques. Having these in mind while re-watching the video will be helpful to me.

[@kentgraham704]

I am so thankful I ran across your channel ! I have just started painting . Your wisdom and clarity communicating techniques is so appreciated!

[@deborahrech7429]

I never got the point of blocking in before. This was most helpful. Thank you.

[@yijumiller5659]

Love your approach. It makes oil painting easy

[@miguelsuarez8010]

Each piece is a masterclass of composition.

[@martimajor4766]

Great work, good teaching. Grateful

[@miablanchesettergren8139]

I just wanted to tell you how greatful I am for all your videos.They are so informative and you are the best teacher ever! Big hugs from a ceramisist in Stockholm, Sweden, now only wanting to paint. :)

[@martimajor4766]

Now that I get you more, I love your art and teaching even more.

[@k.b.woodworker3250]

Excellent, something I never learned but will try. Thank you!!

[@sylviachan1507]

Thanks , you make painting seems like an easy task . Excellent!

[@maggielassie2320]

You make it look so simple...I can watch you all day..Thanks Again, Maggie

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Maggie.

[@bluesunessences]

Love your videos, great teacher

[@apvandev]

Ian, a stellar demo, thank you. I so admire your fearless and bravura brushwork., (and your humor, "housepainting" indeed!). I fear and dread the foreground, so this is an especially helpful lesson for me.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Amanda, I'm glad you liked the video and found it helpful. The foreground is tough because obviously you can see way more information (detail) in the foreground but you don't want to hold the viewers attention there by putting in a bunch of detail. So you have to do something that looks like foreground detail but in fact lets the eye slide past it into the mid ground. So almost by definition it can cause "fear and dread". Ahh... the joys of painting!

[@smasica]

I find it continually fascinating how the human brain is so prone to suggestion. It wants to make sense of what it sees and will fill in all the details to do so. As you've demonstrated numerous times, shape, value and color temperature will give our brains all the cues it needs to see a shrub, a tree, an animal, or or any object without the distraction of photo-realistic detail. It's like the old radio dramas. You never saw the actors or locations, it was all done with voice tone and inflection with music and sound effects. But then the brain takes over and fills in all the blanks. It's the same with writing and books.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I know there are psychologists that say that radio shows, and books for kids, were great for doing just as you are saying, creating a rich inner world. The more it is handed to you ready formed the less engaged we need to be. I find this idea, as you have suggested yourself, really an interesting one in painting. How much can you leave out and then give the finish to the viewer

[@debwicks2523]

Ian, this whole process from referencing other painters’ work, to modifying your photo, to finish was so helpful. Thanks, a super job!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Deb. Glad you liked it. Look forward to seeing your paintings of the beach guy.

[@clevepage]

Thank you Ian. I so appreciate your generosity.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Cleve. Best wishes.

[@fatoomgierdien2181]

Thank You ... For a very helpful video.

[@noemicortes2153]

I’m ready to start painting just to seeing your beautiful work, thanks!

[@DavidSmith-lx3tz]

Your lessons are just what I need at this stage of my WC painting. Than you; I am so grateful to you.

[@joycesumara416]

Fabulous. Extremely helpful. I read your book on composition over and over. Each time, it makes more and more sense. You are a talented artist and instructor. Thank you.

[@123tabatha]

love this

[@michaelcampbell4241]

thanks Ian!!! love it!

[@ascoltando1]

Thanks Ian for another interesting and informative video. It really is very helpful to see how you work and to see the steps in that process. And to see another finished lovely painting. Great work!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Francesca. Glad you liked it and found it helpful. I appreciate your letting me know. All the best.

[@luismedina8502]

Ian you are amazing, I learned a lot. You make it look easy. Thank you!

[@noumine]

that's super! thanks!

[@KathyBrooksArt]

This was so helpful, thank you. I loved seeing the demo too, really drives the point home for me too

[@bearbait7405]

Thank you.

[@jcrow5427]

Thank you sir!

[@ioniverse]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us sir!

[@susanclark9143]

Ian I always have problems with trees in the front of my paintings. The backgrounds no problem. Can you show something about painting a tree in the front left of a painting. Many thanks. I think you are brilliant and appreciate your assistance

[@cathyserafinowicz6374]

Brilliant,thanks for sharing your knowledge.🧡

[@MSDFairfield]

One of the best videos you have made. So helpful. Light is essential in landscapes and you are a master of light.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Diana and I'm happy you found it helpful. Best.

[@svetlanaproskurovska6795]

Thank you, Ian!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Svetlana.

[@sandraworrall-hart3840]

Thank you Ian. love your demos and explanations

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Sandi. Glad you are enjoying them. Best wishes.

[@40bdg]

Love this one! Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for letting me know. All the best.

[@katherineabdun-nur2324]

Stunning! Thank you for your thoughtful and insightful descriptions and demonstrations.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome Katherine. Best wishes.

[@59Monik]

Thank you Ian, I look forward to your Tuesday lessons!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Makes me happy to hear Monica. Thanks for telling me. All the best.

[@douggoodale2588]

Very informative . Thank you again for your time and effort.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome Doug. Best.

[@dfw6773]

Very helpful - thanks!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome. Best wishes.

[@mbegonasastre6938]

Thank you

[@gaylemartin6498]

Hi Ian. I really enjoyed this video. Your painting is very successful and inspirational. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Gayle. See you Saturday. All the best.

[@shopley5255]

Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome.

[@rsbagley3451]

Great demo, simple, clear and helpful.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Appreciate your telling me Ramona. All the best.

[@FARID1870]

love this, easy to pick up and good pointers. subbed

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted you are enjoying the videos.

[@dihan7574]

Thanks for demo very informative

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome Di. Glad you liked it.

[@joanistotler8804]

Thanks Ian for making look so simple! Excellent!!!]

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Joani, well I guess that's helpful, making it look easy. This coming week focuses more on the before painting process, that I think is the foundation of the "making it look so simple" part. All the best.

[@dianahmclaughlin]

Great video Ian!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Diana. And I"ll get to the lighting question!

[@janeiwan3809]

Another tremendous lesson and demo.The painting is stunning.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks Jane. Appreciate again for letting me know. All the best.

[@annmarielopiccolo-carlsen7263]

Demo was very helpful and interesting, thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Great. Glad you liked it Ann Marie.

[@georgekimwana4340]

Kindly may i know whether you use acrylics in blocking stage and later oils. Doing great pieces of art

[@Katrina.for_art]

Thx for the vids. They will help with my wc. I can't believe you said see u next Tues!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@monatrivedi2291]

Im so glad i came across your channel. Its so encouraging to see how you make it simpler. It would be great if you gave information on colours used also to get a better idea

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Mona, in most of the most recent videos I have the list of colors I use below the video. You have to click on the SHOW MORE just below the video.

[@janelintern6969]

Hi Ian, I've been in touch before but have only just got around to starting again to watch some of your videos (I get emails) - you are a blessing! I love the way that you share things so well - this video is a great help, and straightforward. Thanks! Jane/Oxford

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Jane. I'm delighted you are enjoying the videos once again and find them helpful. With best wishes.

[@LaurieSequana]

I love these lessons. Do you ever do watercolor?

[@normanmerrill1241]

Thanks...

[@sil7091]

Hi Ian, thanks for sharing this video with us. In some ways your painting is very understated, but speaks volumes. One can almost feel the atmosphere of the place. The colors work so well together! Adding just the suggestion of details makes for a very pleasant viewing experience. I am wondering about how to incorporate these techniques into a watercolor painting (somewhere along the way I’m going to try oil painting). I am going to have to experiment with how to block in watercolors to achieve the light/dark values and then add details in later. Hmmmm....

[@DavidSmith-lx3tz]

You can incorporate these techniques in WC, just begin with light washes and follow them with midtones then darker washes.

[@sil7091]

Thanks for the suggestion! I have been thinking 🤔 💭 how to go about blocking in watercolors. Your suggestion is exactly how I envisioned the process to be, building value from light to dark with each wash and masking off or working around the lighter values. Too, I have always found it to be a bit of a challenge creating the atmosphere in a wc painting. This will be fun to try.

[@BibleStudyPastor]

I really like the depth you've achieved in the background by "bending up" the background. Very intriguing to the viewer. Bravo! I think your three techniques were: (1) add clouds and softening edges after putting in a sky gradient, (2) add lights and darks and detail, and (3) carving in final shapes, such as the bush. Unfortunately, of those techniques, only 2b (adding darks and detail) works for us watercolorists. :-) But all your lessons in composition are VERY applicable. Nice painting! It makes me want to be there. Blessings!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Ralph, I think actually the first was the block on the island into two simple shapes of light and dark. Although the cloud piece was in there after the block in so you could have started counting then. I say that because that first point of big shapes of light and dark would apply to watercolor artists too. But you're right sometimes if I am talking technique with oils it won't translate. At least the paint application part. All the best to you.

[@BibleStudyPastor]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Okay, blocking into two simple shapes translates well into watercolor technique. But I don't expect you to include all media. :-) Just the compositional thinking is wonderful, and that translates without any problem to any medium.

[@MHarenArt]

I'm an acrylic painter, so the handling of the paint is so much different. But so much in the way of technique can cross over with what you talk about. I color block every painting. For me, it's what you've been calling the road map. Excellent lesson expanding so much on what I thought I knew!! Thanks so much

[@darcymanwaring1489]

For a large painting may I ask what was the surface you were painting on. I didn't see any give like a canvas would do from the pressure of your brush, plus you mention thin paint blocking in the dark in front. I was wondering if you did use some liquin.

[@kathysfineart9152]

These demos are so helpful! I do have a question about technique I would like to know if you let that blockin dry before you go in on top with more colour the next day? I love to apply colour like you demonstrate but if it's wet under there, I end up with grayed down colour. Any tips?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Kathy. Yes generally I do let the block in dry before painting over it. For exactly the reason you suggest. If I am planning on painting the whole in one go then I don't do a block in. I just go shape by shape and adjust edges as I go. But on larger paintings the block in gives me a really good sense of how the whole thing will work together. I use a bit of mineral spirits with the paint in a block in so it paints on pretty easily but is the actual color, not just a thin down version of the color. I want all the values and colors to be pretty accurate by the end of the block in. It usually takes 2 days to be ready to paint on, some times even the next day.

[@kathysfineart9152]

​@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I feel this is a process that will work with my own stage of development. Getting the right colour before applying it to the canvas is key to avoiding the unintentional greying down the color of the shape and this is an encouragement to take the time to dig deeper into the topic. This has been very helpful. Thanks for these videos. They are 'block' busting :)

[@tdbeekman5850]

💕

[@kotlerurisharon7932]

Hi ian you are a brilliant teacher thanks for sharing your knowledge do you have afrontal study? Lessons not in u tube? Th uri

[@tinafabbri6392]

Hello Ian! Would it be possible to put the text below the image? otherwise it is hidden and we cannot see what you show. Thanks!

[@pheehudson4367]

Lovely painting Ian, you have captured the light beautifully.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks a lot Phee. I appreciate your letting me know.

[@teresas683]

Good gosh, you must have quite the budget for brushes😄👍🏻

[@KateColors]

Nice. Thank you. --KateColors

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Kate.

[@8thousevirgin]

Does this work well with acrylics?

[@michaelfuerst4576]

Many of your demos, and especial this one, contain an undiscussed step--the transposing of the colors in the reference photo to those in the painting. How might one think about performing this step?

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I often shoot the palette and my mixing the color. There's a new video coming out Tuesday Aug 5 that addresses color mixing and shows the palette as I mix each color. Hope that helps.

[@LilyBanerjee]

I can feel like seeing the landscape from the top of the hill or may be a tree... Sometimes you need to enhance your the point of view.

[@jameswaustin4669]

It takes a master to corral those miscreant bristles of a bad brush into singing the same song.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Well Jim I sure wouldn't try those ratty brushes with watercolor.

[@jalsiddharth]

Hi, I had a beginner question. Correct me if I'm wrong, but your style involves using more pigments and it barely feels like a typical water colour. Is this your general style? I just want to know more about this approach. Thank you so much.

[@ClariceAust]

Ian is painting with oil paints, not watercolour. When he speaks of 'blocking in' he is doing the base layer with thinned oil paint, because it is mixed with turpentine & that thinner mix gives a base layer that dries faster than pure oil paint normally does. The next layer/s will be done with just oil paint over the dried, thinner layer.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

First I work in oils. And I normally have 11 pigments.

[@jalsiddharth]

@@ClariceAust Thank you so much, Clarice! :))

[@jalsiddharth]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition very interesting. I came across your channel looking for watercolor tutorials and ideas. Never occurred to me it was oil. If I'm not wrong, your concepts seem universal and can be applied to any medium. Thank you for all the videos. I'm pretty sure they've accelerated my general progress by half a decade. I've just started drawing / WC painting. Can't wait to paint my own first landscape. 😁

[@ClariceAust]

@@jalsiddharth Siddharth, you're welcome. But you never know, you may branch out into oils. You're right though, Ian's teaching on composition applies to all mediums; he is a wonderful teacher who is a, if not the, leading expert on this subject.

[@renzo6490]

Not supplying exactly what the eye recognizes and expects in a painting still "works" as you say, in the same way numbers can be read as words: 7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5 We look at this and think, " This is a sentence in English" we expect it to make sense so we make sense of it as best we can. Although the letters are not exact, we still see them as letters. _____________________________ You didn't get very detailed in the foreground, true...no very hard edges. But, I see that, compared to the foliage and plant life further in the distance, what's in the foreground is more distinct...blades of grass etc.

[@RosssRoyce]

Lovely, but you missed the chance to paint this lovely greenish grey along the horizon 😀to much strong chroma on the sky! Saying that more in a kidding tone for I would have “missed” probably even more things than this!