Chapter 9

The Basic Techniques of Oils

NORTHERN LIGHTSAn Original Oil Painting by Darrell Crow

Assignment

P A I N T I N G S U P P L I E S

Paints Alizarin Crimson (AC)Burnt Umber (BU) Burnt Sienna (BS)Ivory Black (IB) Prussian Blue (PB)Cad Yellow (CY) Paynes GrayOrange (OR) Titanium White (TW)Pthalo Green (PTG) Pthalo Blue (PTB)

Brushes 2 1/2” Landscape 1” Landscape#2 Script Liner #3 Fan Brush#6 Fan #4 Flat Bristle#5 Palette knife #10 Palette KnifeHake Blender Sponge Brush (1-2”

Medium Medium Clear (MC) Black GessoCanvas 18”x24” although any size can be used.Miscellaneous: Paper Towels, Baby Wipes, Baby Oil (orOdorless thinner), Container & Cleaning Screen for oil,Beater rack and waste receptacle, table top easel,paper palette.

Northern LightsAn original oil painting by Darrell Crow

This is a beautiful painting that absolutely anyone can do,even if they’ve never painted before. Northern Lights willtake 2-4 hours to complete depending upon whether you’re abeginner or a more experienced student. Also available onDVD, Northern Lights is an extremely popular painting at theDarrell Crow Studios. A tranquil sky with towering, softmountains sets the atmosphere for dynamic sky reflectionsacross the river. Northern Lights will delight and astoundyour family and friends as a gift or as a treasure in your ownhome. Using a nearly full palette, this exceptional paintingcan be adapted to any size canvas.

The Basic Techniques of Oils

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 9: Assignment: Northern Lights, an original painting byDarrell Crow

Overview……………..……………………………………………………………… 9-3Supplies You’ll Need…………………………………………………………… 9-3Preparation…………………………………………………………………………. 9-4Background………………………………………………………………………… 9-4Middleground………………………………………………………………………. 9-5Foreground……………………………………………………………………………. 9-6Final Details…………………………………………………………………………. 9-8Reprint Authorization Notice………………………………………………… 9-9

Northern LightsDarrell Crow Studios, 65 Hixon St., Bellingham, MA 02019http://www.darrellcrow.biz, http://www.darrellcrow.com, http://www.YouCanPaintClub.com

P A I N T I N G S U P P L I E S

Paints Alizarin Crimson (AC)Burnt Umber (BU) Burnt Sienna (BS)Ivory Black (IB) Prussian Blue (PB)Cad Yellow (CY) Paynes GrayOrange (OR) Titanium White (TW)Pthalo Green (PTG) Pthalo Blue (PTB)

Brushes 2 1/2” Landscape 1” Landscape#2 Script Liner #3 Fan Brush#6 Fan #4 Flat Bristle#5 Palette knife #10 Palette KnifeHake Blender Sponge Brush (1-2”

Medium Medium Clear (MC) Black GessoCanvas 18”x24” although any size can be used.Miscellaneous: Paper Towels, Baby Wipes, Baby Oil (orOdorless thinner), Container & Cleaning Screen for oil,Beater rack and waste receptacle, table top easel,paper palette.

Northern LightsAn original oil painting by Darrell Crow

This is a beautiful painting that absolutely anyone can do,even if they’ve never painted before. Northern Lights willtake 2-4 hours to complete depending upon whether you’re abeginner or a more experienced student. Also available onDVD, Northern Lights is an extremely popular painting at theDarrell Crow Studios. A tranquil sky with towering, softmountains sets the atmosphere for dynamic sky reflectionsacross the river. Northern Lights will delight and astoundyour family and friends as a gift or as a treasure in your ownhome. Using a nearly full palette, this exceptional paintingcan be adapted to any size canvas.

The Basic Techniques of Oils

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 9: Assignment: Northern Lights, an original painting byDarrell Crow

Overview……………..……………………………………………………………… 9-3Supplies You’ll Need…………………………………………………………… 9-3Preparation…………………………………………………………………………. 9-4Background………………………………………………………………………… 9-4Middleground………………………………………………………………………. 9-5Foreground……………………………………………………………………………. 9-6Final Details…………………………………………………………………………. 9-8Reprint Authorization Notice………………………………………………… 9-9

Northern LightsDarrell Crow Studios, 65 Hixon St., Bellingham, MA 02019http://www.darrellcrow.biz, http://www.darrellcrow.com, http://www.YouCanPaintClub.com

Mix PB, AC, IB, PG. W/knife paint mountain edges.

Fill in the mountain with theknife.

Blend bottom of mountainsso they fade.

Blend Base of mountain andmist bottom of mountains.

With mountain mixture,base in foregrounds.

Paint Evergreen trees on leftside of canvas

Using knife, highlight dulledor PG/PTG/TW mixture.

Paint entire moonlit sides.Add 2nd highlight.

Add PG Gray darks rightside of mountains.

Our Basic Supplies andPaints for this lesson.

Cover the entire canvas with2 coats of Black Gesso.

We’ll be using PB and MCto prepare black canvas.

Using #3 Fan load withpaint, add three curved lines.

Dry 1” Brush pull colordown and up.

Stroke horizontally asthough painting reflections.

Add a thin coat of MediumClear and then wipe off

Then cover entire canvaswith a coat of PB

Mix PTG and TW to make aTurquoise color.

Page 2 Northern Lights Page 3 Northern LightsPREPARATION

Background

MIDDLEGROUND

Mix PB, AC, IB, PG. W/knife paint mountain edges.

Fill in the mountain with theknife.

Blend bottom of mountainsso they fade.

Blend Base of mountain andmist bottom of mountains.

With mountain mixture,base in foregrounds.

Paint Evergreen trees on leftside of canvas

Using knife, highlight dulledor PG/PTG/TW mixture.

Paint entire moonlit sides.Add 2nd highlight.

Add PG Gray darks rightside of mountains.

Our Basic Supplies andPaints for this lesson.

Cover the entire canvas with2 coats of Black Gesso.

We’ll be using PB and MCto prepare black canvas.

Using #3 Fan load withpaint, add three curved lines.

Dry 1” Brush pull colordown and up.

Stroke horizontally asthough painting reflections.

Add a thin coat of MediumClear and then wipe off

Then cover entire canvaswith a coat of PB

Mix PTG and TW to make aTurquoise color.

Page 2 Northern Lights Page 3 Northern LightsPREPARATION

Background

MIDDLEGROUND

Paint evergreen treessmaller as you go to mtns.

Mix darker turquoise (TW/PTG) for highlighting trees.

On canvas left highlightright side of evergreens,

Block in trees, bushes, landwith mountain color.

Check to make sure of yourbackground/middleground.

Using tree highlight onknife, highlight land snow.

Now tap in snow on groundin front of evergreen trees.

With tree highlight colorpull down for reflections.

Using level horizontalstrokes, finish reflections.

Page 4 Northern Lights

Make sure the land gets nar-row as it goes back. Blend.

Pull paint down from under-neath all bushes for shadows

On right, highlight left sideof evergreen trees.

Lighter, lighter, lighter asyou move down on bushes

You can optionally add acampfire in this painting.

Paint oval with the mountainmix.

Remember, very light pres-sure when making bushes.

Paint outsides. Softer pres-sure as you move inside.

Keep your darks. Theyseparate the bushes.

Page 5 Northern Lights

FOREGROUND

Paint evergreen treessmaller as you go to mtns.

Mix darker turquoise (TW/PTG) for highlighting trees.

On canvas left highlightright side of evergreens,

Block in trees, bushes, landwith mountain color.

Check to make sure of yourbackground/middleground.

Using tree highlight onknife, highlight land snow.

Now tap in snow on groundin front of evergreen trees.

With tree highlight colorpull down for reflections.

Using level horizontalstrokes, finish reflections.

Page 4 Northern Lights

Make sure the land gets nar-row as it goes back. Blend.

Pull paint down from under-neath all bushes for shadows

On right, highlight left sideof evergreen trees.

Lighter, lighter, lighter asyou move down on bushes

You can optionally add acampfire in this painting.

Paint oval with the mountainmix.

Remember, very light pres-sure when making bushes.

Paint outsides. Softer pres-sure as you move inside.

Keep your darks. Theyseparate the bushes.

Page 5 Northern Lights

FOREGROUND

Using #4 Flat, stroke inrocks to border oval.

Blend center of campfirewith #3 Fan Brush.

Blend outside of campfirestones with #3 Fan Brush.

Using Side of brush quicklyadd all of your rocks.

Check details, retouchinghighlight as required.

Sign your masterpiece.

Using BU, add logs onto thecampfire using #10 knife.

See the realistic effects…? Add BR to show the camp-fire burning brightly.

Page 6 Northern Lights Page 7 Northern Lights

Reproduction RightsThe contents of this document are copyrighted©(2011) by and for the Darrell Crow Studios. Only Owners of The Basic Tech-niques of Oils book, may reproduce copies of this Assignment: Northern Lights for distribution to their students when teaching

Northern Lights.

Published by theDarrell Crow Studios

www.darrellcrow.com65 Hixon St., Bellingham, MA 02019

You can visit us here ...

TwitterYouTube (DarrellCrowStudioes)FaceBookhttp://www.darrellcrow.comhttp://www.darrellcrow.bizhttp://www.YouCanPaintClub.com

We offer Basic Technique Series of Instructional Painting DVDs on ….Landscapes Seascapes PeopleFlowers Tall Ships WildlifePop Art Paint From PhotosColor Mixing Techniques Teach Kids To PaintWater Mixable Oils AcrylicsMuch, much more.

YES! You Can Paint.

I absolutely guarantee it.

Using #4 Flat, stroke inrocks to border oval.

Blend center of campfirewith #3 Fan Brush.

Blend outside of campfirestones with #3 Fan Brush.

Using Side of brush quicklyadd all of your rocks.

Check details, retouchinghighlight as required.

Sign your masterpiece.

Using BU, add logs onto thecampfire using #10 knife.

See the realistic effects…? Add BR to show the camp-fire burning brightly.

Page 6 Northern Lights Page 7 Northern Lights

Reproduction RightsThe contents of this document are copyrighted©(2011) by and for the Darrell Crow Studios. Only Owners of The Basic Tech-niques of Oils book, may reproduce copies of this Assignment: Northern Lights for distribution to their students when teaching

Northern Lights.

Published by theDarrell Crow Studios

www.darrellcrow.com65 Hixon St., Bellingham, MA 02019

You can visit us here ...

TwitterYouTube (DarrellCrowStudioes)FaceBookhttp://www.darrellcrow.comhttp://www.darrellcrow.bizhttp://www.YouCanPaintClub.com

We offer Basic Technique Series of Instructional Painting DVDs on ….Landscapes Seascapes PeopleFlowers Tall Ships WildlifePop Art Paint From PhotosColor Mixing Techniques Teach Kids To PaintWater Mixable Oils AcrylicsMuch, much more.

YES! You Can Paint.

I absolutely guarantee it.