How to Paint Grass and Fields

By Julie Shoemaker

Chance are that a good majority of your paintings will contain some grass. Grass can be a little challenging if you don't follow a few guidelines.

First of all, use a variety of values for the grasses. For example, look at fields and notice how they are not all the same colors. This may be to different things growing, but it is also due to shadows and where the sunlight is hitting.

A good and effective way to start is to lay in a distant field just under your horizon. I would make it sloped a little and don't make it too wide (because it is in the distance and perspective wise, it might be barely visible. Use a dark green. Next, add some yellow or white to brighten the green up and lay in the next layer. This layer will appear to be catching the sun light. Finally as you work your way forward use a medium shade green and come all the way forward. Let the slopes show and let any color variation show.

In the preceding example, you created very simple indications of grass lawns or fields. It's pretty simple to indicate individual blades of grass as well. Clumps of grass are painted by simple using a color that will show up (darker against a light background and vise versa.) Use quick strokes pull the paint upwards with a light touch. Your brush should comes off the surface of the canvas giving a fine point to the tip of the grass stalk.

You would only need to add a few stalks here and there to indicate that the entire fields has blades of grass. Grass in the foreground should stand out to be effective. Use a little yellow to really highlight and make them stand out. Like usual though don't over do it.

With a little practice, you'll be painting very effective grass and fields in no time.
Julie Shoemaker is an avid painter and hobbyist who regularly gives paintings as gifts to family and friends. To read more articles like the one here, and to see more free art tips, tricks and techniques and free step by step lessons please visit http://www.IamPainting.org
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