How to Paint a Woodland Stream (Step by Step Oil Painting Tutorial)

Today I'm painting a woodland stream using acrylic and oil paints. See the differences in techniques, blending, and final results as we combine these two mediums. This is a challenging painting with a few surprises and some common issues for us to tackle.
So, don't miss this exciting demonstration of creativity as we explore the beautiful world of painting with acrylics and oils. Using mixed media for painting a woodland stream can help a beginner to gain confidence. Mainly because they are so forgiving and fixable.
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Reference photo - pixabay.com/ph...
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[@davidg.5076]

I'm a sucker for water and also wilderness/mountains etc. I like this a lot ! Thanks again !

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi David - you and me too. Its why I had to paint this runners up photo. Happy Painting - Paul 😃😎

[@PaintingFabulousFlorals]

Thank you Paul. 😊 I always enjoy all your paintings and I learn so much 🖌️🖌️🖌️

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi Jann - thank you so much for watching and leaving a lovely comment. I just checked out your channel and wow what pretty flowers you paint. I'll have to watch some more @paintingfabulousflorals best wishes - Paul 🥰😃

[@PaintingWithYovette]

Excellent painting Paul, and one of my mothers favorite colors. ❤🤗

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi Yovette - thanks for stopping by and watching - I'm usually a warm yellow / gold color person. But a nice cool green is just so appealing. Happy painting - Paul 😃🥰😎

[@danyelhudon458]

I do love you way of painting by taking your times for adding interesting details for a better look than Bob Ross and often as such as Bill Alexander too! I love your tone of voice and your calm attitude! Good for you! ❤ from Quebec in Canada 🇨🇦 I am retaken my brushes after leaving to paint due to a severe arthritis from 42 years ago!!

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi Danyel - Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s wonderful to hear that you’re picking up your brushes again. Art can be a healing journey, and I’m glad to be part of yours! - Paul 😄😎

[@kennethmurphy8585]

Yet another gorgeous painting, and brilliantly created in such a warm and inspiring way that only you can do… replete with the perfect setting, backlighting, pickles and loving humor. You are a gift and thank you so very much for connecting and sharing with us every week. FYI- your voice and narrative style is ASMR legend status at this point, imo.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you so much 😀Kenneth. I keep getting told I should narrate a book so who knows what the future holds. Best wishes - Paul 😃😎

[@acaccholi]

Great painting Paul, well done!

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Andy - pleased you enjoyed the video - Paul

[@antonettelamberty5650]

Amazing painting. Your tutorials are incredible. As a novice painter, I cannot express how much I appreciate that you add the ‘pickles’ and then address how to fix them. So important! Keep up the amazing work!

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you so much 😀Antonette. getting into and out of (sometimes!) those art pickles is all part of the journey. If I leave them out I think I'm doing everyone a disservice. If you see even a seasoned artists can make the simplest of errors then you know your not alone. Happy Painting and enjoy your pickles too - Paul 😄🥰😎

[@caaront]

A great work as always Paul. You are a gentleman and a motivator Sir. I can hardly wait to get started again.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Aaron. Have fun with your paintings - Paul 😃😎

[@hughtempleton8640]

Absolutely beautiful painting , Paul . 😀

[@PaulRansonArt]

Many thanks Hugh. Its sitting on the easel behind me and its a real beauty if I say so myself. - Paul 😃😎

[@reniberg9337]

Your tips are amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom😊

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Reni - I hope to pass on a lot more of the tips and tricks I have been lucky enought to have learned along the way - Paul 😃😎

[@AnnieTroe]

FANTASTIC to see how you fixed the symmetrical base painting! Thank you for sharing SO MANY fantastic tips! I need to find a stiff fan brush to play with. Have a wonderful week Paul! 😍

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hey Annie 😍😍😍😍 Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a lovely comment. I feel I'm sinking a bit behind with my favourite artists to see what your up to. I love the duck drawing by the way. So cute - Will check in with you soon - Big hugs as always - Paul 😃😃🥰🥰😎😎

[@ewenross7578]

Hi paul, amazing little painting.. love how it all comes together.. well done.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Ewen. I often start a painting and wonder if its a mistake. But experience has told me that more often than not I can make something from it. - Paul 😄😎

[@SRTW67]

Hi Paul! Some real fantastic tips here! Things that happen so often in painting is well, life! Time to take someone to work, time to make supper… and then the canvas is sticky.. I think you’ve solved this problem for me! Paul, I still struggle with pressure. My hand is sometimes heavy! I’m practicing though on paper. I had a thought, would you consider showing us how to make willow trees? They’re so beautiful. This painting reminds me of a creek with willow trees on the edge. This one is a real stunner!! Have a great week! ✨🤗😎🌞🖌️🎨🤩

[@PaulRansonArt]

Yes, life has a way of putting the squeeze on us. In general the best solution is to let our paints dry a while and then we can go again without causing a major problem. Just try and leave the canvas at a stage where its easier to restart. I've scraped off some bushes that were good just to give me a better re-starting point. I tried painting weeping Willows before. They were ... well lets say not my favourite trees. Maybe its time I practiced them again! Have a great week too! Thanks as always for the kind words and support - Paul 😃😍😎

[@SRTW67]

@@PaulRansonArt I’m thinking willows are very hard. I did try once.. they looked like green fireworks!😂

[@PaulRansonArt]

@@SRTW67 Mine looked like a green Chewbacca 🤪🤪

[@SRTW67]

@@PaulRansonArt 🤣😆😂😂😂

[@sharpmountaingames9303]

Thanks for a great video, you always help me relax. I also appreciate that you link the reference photo in case we want to try it as well. All the best!

[@PaulRansonArt]

You are so welcome! I'm so pleased your enjoying them - Paul 😃😎

[@BCBonsler]

This is another beautiful rendition of a photo Paul. We learn so many helpful tips from you each time. Love the underpainting. 😎😍🥰

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Cheryl. I used to find working from photographs quite intimidating. But over time I learned to edit the scene as I painted so I had the bare bones to work with. Hence the red lines for the river banks on a grey photograph. Removing the destractions helps us to 'see' the essential areas and not to get dragged under with detail. Happy Painting - Paul 😃🥰😎

[@sylvia2553]

Excellent paul i love this ,its gone to the top of my to do list 🐈🐈‍⬛🐶

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi Sylvia - another best seller painting for you to try - 🥰🥰 - Just decided what I'm painting for this Sunday ... want a clue? Well lets just say its out of this world! There, now you know more than anyone ... including me! Have a lovely week - Paul 😃🥰😎

[@sylvia2553]

@PaulRansonArt OK! Could it be a fantasy painting? A waterfall in the sky dropping from the earth down on to a valley of evergreen trees 🌲 twisting and turning along a rain soaked street ending on a foreground of a sandy beach ?

[@PaulRansonArt]

@@sylvia2553 damn your good woman! Now I have to think of something else 🤔🤔🤗🤗🥰🥰

[@sylvia2553]

@@PaulRansonArt Hahaha 😆 😂 🤣 looking forward to the reveal 🐈🐈‍⬛🐶

[@Ron_DeForest]

Gorgeous dude. Seriously.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thanks Ron - I need a cool painting now and again. Reminds me of Lime Aid soda 😃😎

[@Ron_DeForest]

@@PaulRansonArt Love Lime aid Soda. Been a long time.

[@user-fs4jf2ou6t]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@PaulRansonArt]

Thank you Catalin - lots of 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 back - Happy Painting - Paul 😃😍😎

[@corinnedanel9899]

it's superb Paul as usual... have a great week in July

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hello Corrine - thank you for your lovely comment. I'm having a day or two off so lets see what I can do this week. Best wishes - Paul 😃🥰😎

[@sharpmountaingames9303]

Also, there are acrylic glazing mediums one can buy if you want to do a painting like this all in acrylic. Just another option.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Yes, I've seen some of these products and will give them a try. One potential challenge will be to test the drying times. Oils stay wet for hours ( usually! ) so happy accidents can be wiped off. Not sure how long the acrylics stay wet for. But I like to try different products and include them as alternatives if they work the same. - Paul 😃😎

[@sharpmountaingames9303]

@@PaulRansonArt True, the glazing mediums don't stay wet that long. You do have to work a little faster. Everything's a tradeoff (and I like oils a lot too, so never throwing any shade at oils).

[@lauriecatlin4784]

I would love to master this scene but after 3 attempts it's just not happening 😢 the river has no flow I'm in a real pickle.

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi Laurie - I feel your pain, I really do. I had a bogey painting that Bob did and I could not for the life of me make it work. I set it aside and started on other paintings. Some time later ( years later BTW ) I painted this again having forgotten the anguish it had caused me. I taught this painting to several classes too. Then my other half Terri said "That was the painting you swore you'd never get right" - So what changed Laurie? Love to hear what you think is holding you back. - Paul 😃

[@JoAnnLilyflower]

I only have oils, will this work with just oils?😢

[@PaulRansonArt]

Hi JoAnn - TBH I think getting a basic set of acrylic colours would be the best way to do this painting. If you did it all with oils then you'd have to do the underpainting and leave it to dry for a few weeks before glazing. A small set of acrylic paints costs only a few $$ and I think you would use it a lot. Best wishes - Paul 😃😍😎

[@averagegilo]

7:20, did you have a computer issue?😂

[@PaulRansonArt]

I'm not a tech person so maybe!😄😄😃😃😍😍😎😎🤣🤣

[@averagegilo]

@@PaulRansonArt ah but I'm sure it's fixed now though😉