Artist Statement – “Where the Pines Rest“
This piece explores depth, stillness, and atmosphere through intentional colour mixing and layered composition. Using acrylic paint and an angled brush, I focused on building a landscape through gradual shifts in hue and shade.
We began this piece by practicing color value. First, we created a value scale using one true hue (green). We mixed tints by starting with white and slowly adding green, and mixed shades by starting with green and gradually adding black. This helped us clearly see how value changes from light to dark.
Once we understood the range of values, we applied those mixes to a landscape. We started with the lightest tint at the top of the page and worked downward, gradually using darker values to create depth in the mountains and foreground. The darkest shades were used in the trees and front layer to show contrast and perspective.
This practice helped us understand how value creates space, dimension, and mood in a painting.
Before beginning my canvas painting, I mixed all of my colours in advance. Starting with a true blue as my base, I created a range of light tints by beginning with white and slowly blending in blue. I then developed deeper shades by starting with blue and gradually adding black. Preparing the full spectrum beforehand allowed me to move confidently through the painting process, focusing on placement and layering rather than remixing along the way.
I began at the top of the canvas with the lightest tint and worked my way downward, gradually transitioning into darker values. This method created a sense of depth as each mountain layer became richer and more grounded. The angled brush helped define the soft, rolling silhouettes of the landscape.
The white crescent moon and the black trees were added at the end to complete the composition. The moon brings balance and quiet contrast to the open sky, while the silhouetted trees anchor the foreground and provide a strong visual frame.
This work is about atmosphere more than detail. About the feeling of standing in stillness, surrounded by layered mountains at dusk. Through careful preparation and gradual tonal shifts, the piece reflects both planning and calm presence in the creative process.
Self Assessment
