This small 6×8 soft pastel study was painted from a reference photo I took earlier this summer while golfing in Oshawa. What caught my attention wasn’t a dramatic scene, but the subtle character of the place: an aging wooden bridge, a narrow creek that’s been partially washed out over time, and a cluster of trees anchoring the left side of the composition. It felt imperfect in a way that made it interesting—and worth painting.
The video above is a time-lapse of the full painting process, from start to finish. Below is a breakdown of how I approached it.
Step 1: Roughing in the Composition
I always start by loosely placing the major elements on the page. At this stage, accuracy matters less than proportion and balance. I’m simply making sure the bridge, creek, tree mass, and surrounding space are all sitting where they need to be before committing to colour or detail.
Step 2: Blocking in Large Color Areas
Once the composition is established, I block in the main color shapes. I typically work from dark to light, focusing on larger value masses rather than individual objects. This helps keep the painting unified and prevents me from getting distracted by details too early.
Step 3: Refining Shapes and Structure
With the main colors in place, I start refining shapes—especially trees, the edges of the bridge, and the flow of the creek. This is where the painting begins to feel more readable. I’m not chasing fine detail yet, just clarifying forms and relationships.
Step 4: Detail and Definition
Next, I selectively refine details to support the focal areas. This might include sharper edges, subtle value shifts, or small variations in color to suggest texture in the wood, water, or foliage.
Step 5: Highlights and Final Touches
I finish by adding a few well-placed highlights to bring certain elements forward—usually lighter accents on the rocks and trees, water reflections, or sun-hit foliage and grass. I try to keep these restrained so they enhance the painting rather than overpower it.
Palette Materials Used
- Pastels: Unison Colour Soft Pastels, Jackson’s Art Soft Pastels
- Surface: UART 800 sanded pastel paper
