Article: New Lesson 'The Tide sleeps Here' Now Available
New Lesson 'The Tide sleeps Here' Now Available
Learn How To Paint this Beautiful Misty River Scene
A quiet morning on the river, wrapped in mist and soft, drifting light. This scene comes from a photo I took just near our office one misty morning. The River Blackwater, which flows into the River Chelmer, is always beautiful, but on this particular day the light caught my eye immediately. A low, glowing haze skimmed across the water, settling softly around the boats along the river. It was one of those moments where everything lines up for just a few seconds and you know it’s worth stopping for.
What really drew me in, beyond the atmosphere, was the contrast between the softness of the mist and the sharp structure of the boats. The rigging, masts, and lines create a delicate web of fine detail cutting through the haze.
Capturing that balance between sharp definition and calm, misty light is a big part of what we’ll focus on in this lesson.
This 25 part lesson gives you a chance to slow things right down and work with precision, while balancing it against a soft, atmospheric background.
You will see exactly how I approach fine structural details, from rigging and masts to delicate lines that give the whole painting its sense of accuracy and calm.
I show how clean, crisp lines can sit beautifully against softer hues. It is a strong lesson in creating depth and atmosphere while keeping delicate details clear, controlled, and purposeful.
No Block in Stage:
This lesson was painted without a traditional block in stage, working straight into the painting from the initial sketch.
The mist naturally simplifies the background, allowing you to control values and edges without over painting, while the boats provide strong linear elements that anchor the composition.
It is an ideal scene for exploring how crisp detail can sit comfortably within a calm, atmospheric setting, using contrast in edges and tone to create depth and clarity while preserving the softness of the mood.
The lesson does require careful control, particularly when painting the rigging and curved edges, but using a mahl stick or straight edge will help guide your hand and keep things steady.
I hope you enjoy painting this as much as I did
Happy Painting
