pumpkin harvest painting

Artist:  Linda Lover

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Linda used the new La Corneille Innovative Brush Shapes to paint this beautiful fall painting. They can be used not only in decorative painting but also in more traditional-style painting.

Loew-Cornell paint brushes

244 Angular Bristle ¼”, ½”

La Corneille 7730, Aura™  ½”

La Corneille 7330 Curved Flat 10

La Corneille 7050 Script Liner 1

La Corneille 7300 Flat Shader 2, 8

La Corneille 7550 Flat Wash ¾”

DecoArt Americana Paints

 Bittersweet Chocolate

Burnt Orange

Charcoal Grey

Golden Straw

Lamp Black

Plantation Pine

Russet

Titanium White

Traditional Burnt Sienna

Victorian Blue

Surface

9” x 12” oval canvas or similar size surface

Msc. Supplies

Tracing paper

Transfer paper

Stylus or pencil

Water basin

Paper towel

Preparation

Even with a primed canvas I generally basecoat the surface.  Basecoat Titanium White with a flat wash. Dry.

How to paint the sky is optional as you can use your favorite brush and technique.  The sky shown is painted using two ½” angular bristle brushes, one for loading Victorian Blue and the other for loading Titanium White. Begin with Victorian Blue at the top, add Titanium White and alternate these two colors to the horizon.  Even though using separate brushes, wipe bristles after each application so that the colors don’t become overly blended.  Pull the brush on edge with a slight scrubbing motion rather than a direct stipple; pat gently where colors meet to keep a smooth blend.   Heavy loads of paint are more difficult to blend so use a fairly light load.  When the paint has dried, highlight some of the cloud tops with additional Titanium White using the heel of the brush (shorter bristles) rather than the toe.  An almost dry brush works best as color can be continually added to achieve the desired brightness.   

Directions

1. Tree line:  Double load the ¼” angular bristle with Burnt Orange and Golden straw to stipple fall foliage at the tree line; shade at the bottom with Traditional Burnt Sienna.  Stipple the green foliage Plantation Pine and highlight with minimal Golden Straw.  Use slightly watered paint to achieve a distant look.
2. Barn:  Basecoat Bittersweet Chocolate with a #8 flat shader.  Without rinsing, wipe brush and pick up Golden Straw to highlight the back side of the barn.  Pull color from the bottom upward  Dry brush the barn front pulling Golden Straw from the bottom upward and then overpaint Traditional Burnt Sienna. Deepen color under eaves and at the corner with additional Bittersweet Chocolate.  Double load a #2 flat shader Lamp Black and Titanium White, paint loft window.  Mix Lamp Black and Titanium White to a light grey and paint the roof; highlight edge by blending in Titanium White.  Accent by dry brushing Victorian Blue.
3. Field: The grass is painted using Plantation Pine and Golden Straw.  Load one side of the ½” angular bristle with Golden Straw and the other side with Plantation Pine.  Use the brush on chisel edge with light pressure, walk the bristles keeping Golden Straw at the top.  Alternate colors painting downward;  lightly stipple and pat to keep colors blending.  If highlight color becomes over blended, add Golden Straw.  Keep the area at the fence line darker on one side, lighter on the other.  The grass in the foreground uses the same paint colors, but change to the ½” aura brush; use the tip edges to pull up grass.
4. Fence:  Double load the #2 flat shader Charcoal Grey and Golden Straw, use the brush on chisel for distant posts.  Use the brush flat for larger posts.  Double load the #1 script liner Lamp Black and Titanium White to paint wire.
5. Evergreens:  Pull a line to begin the evergreens using Plantation Pine and the chisel edge of the #2 shader.  Use the corner tip of the ½” aura brush and touch the top, stipple in short increments while pulling to the side to achieve the boughs.  Use minimal paint as you can always add more if needed.
6. Pumpkins:  Basecoat Burnt Orange with the #10 curved flat; let the curve easily form the rounded sides. Double load the brush corner with Russet and the curved edge with Burnt Orange, paint keeping the darker color to shade the grooves.  Double load the curved edge with Golden Straw and the corner edge with Burnt Orange, paint with highlight color on the curved sides.  When dry, additional Golden Straw can be dry brushed over the pumpkin for more highlight and a mix of Russet an Burnt Orange can be pulled up from the bottom of the pumpkin to shade. Mix Charcoal Grey and Plantation Pine, paint the stems, wipe brush and blend in Golden Straw to highlight while paint is wet.  Double load the #1 script liner with Golden Straw and Plantation Pine, paint tendrils.  Double load the #8 shader with Plantation Pine and golden Straw to paint the leaves; dry brush Burnt Orange to accent.
7. Finish:  Pull up grass at the bottom of the foreground using the ½” aura brush tips and repeat with Golden Straw to highlight.