I Almost Ruined This Painting at the End | Golden Mountain Valley
Watch as I take a classic birch tree forest scene from a previous Patreon livestream and completely dial it in with extra time and care. See refined tree shapes, layered comma-stroke foliage, sky holes, depth, and beautiful highlights that turn a simple forest into a rich, detailed landscape.
Timestamps:
• 0:00 – Intro & Sky Setup
• 2:30 – Blocking in the Birch Trees
• 7:00 – Shop Towel Texture & Foliage Details
• 12:40 – Adding Depth, Sky Holes & Backlight
• 18:00+ – Layered Leaves, Highlights & Final Touches
A huge thank you to all our wonderful Patreon members for your incredible support — it makes these in-depth tutorials possible!
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What’s your favorite part of this birch forest? Would you try painting this scene? Let me know in the comments!
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22 Comments
🦊👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
thank you
Nice studio
Love the new studio Kev. 2 questions 1 how do you attach the canvases to the wall, and
2 what is your pallet exactly
I am from Pakistan. I am a big fan of your paintings and the way you teach each and every detail.
Can I copy your paintings for practice and to sell?
I know many artists copy work without permission, but I didn't feel it was right to do so without asking you first.
I will be extremely glad if you give me permission.
Thanks !
Reply me please
C est superbe, les couleurs du ciel sont tres belles,vus etes un grand artiste,magnifique peinture !……
Great painting Kevin,always love to hear your voice as you explain,and love to see your family once in a while.
Hey Kevin, very nice painting. I agree with trying to do Alla Prima but when I finish the underpainting I stop there and continue the next day with highlights and shadows. Do you think that is a good way to do it since I can't do the whole painting at once. Your input would be vsluable to me. I must say also Ihave followed you for a long time and I have seen other painters paint hyper-realistic paintings but I think the end result is a lot better your way because of the color on the canvas. Can't wait for the next live stream on Patreon.
Its been a while since your last vid man, glad to see you back making vids 🙂
Hi Kevin. You are still the best artist. Your painting is beautiful as always.
Thank you.❤
Mr kevin can you show us that small paing ??❤
14:25 wrong!!
Consider adding the "community page" option….
Great idea changing your studio….the backdrop is much better and effective when looking at the piece your working on regarding values…..also the lighting is so much better….your older studio when you had the dark backdrop had good lighting….having the proper lighting is most important….
Although…..using an 18/24 canvas set on an easel and filmed in "vertical mode " would be much better for viewers and would save you on time having to move the camera back and forth onto palette….moreover….the algorithm picks up videos when posted in vertical format…Portrait mode…..
Maybe you can experiment…and use the wall easel whenever you have a larger canvas…..just give it a try….the setup ….presentation….camera view….and that what's the word….not only is great for viewers …can also be mesmerizing to watch….the word ….I can't get it out….its there….in short….its just not the nostalgia of Paint with Kevin….
With time…and or it takes time for painters to become aware there needs adjusting and or change….let's see now your choice of hues for your palette….just experiment with having a secondary primary…a warm and cool of each….and don't be afraid to add other colors to your palette when creating a piece….your not limited….you don't have to use this same palette….your missing out in so many variables….put some color in your life as well…..
And….don't be bound to using the same brushes….try the Dagger brush….an Ivory or bristle dagger….so many uses….try using your acrylic dagger….not sure if its firm….to create foliage….
The Ivory and or bristle dagger you can shape…highlight mountains…rocks/cliffs…create many shapes for leaves and more….
You'll never use a liner brush again….
Thank you for sharing– feedback:
There are some strong foundational ideas here, particularly in how you've attempted to use the large foreground tree to frame the scene. However, a few technical missteps in color harmony, value structure, and spatial geometry are currently pulling the execution away from the deep, believable realism you are aiming for.
Below are a few structured thoughts on how to refine your color mixing, value control, perspective, and composition.
🎨 Color Mixing & Value Control
Tame the Vibrancy: The midground features some very high-saturation, acidic yellows and lime-greens. These bright colors clash aggressively with the chalky, muddy browns of the foreground tree, making the transitions feel forced. Try using a more restricted palette—mixing your greens with an earth tone like Yellow Ochre or a touch of their complement (purple) to keep them looking natural and integrated.
Lighten Your Background Shadows: Right now, the shadows on your distant mountains are nearly as dark as the shadows under your foreground tree. Because these background values lack the soft, pale, low-contrast tones created by atmospheric haze, the mountains punch forward and flatten your sense of depth. Lightening and desaturating those distant shadows will immediately push the mountains miles into the background.
Perspective & Composition
Flatten the River: Your river is suffering from a distortion in linear perspective. Because it does not flatten out and taper gradually enough as it recedes, it looks a bit like a vertical ribbon hanging down a wall rather than water lying flat on the valley floor. To fix this, compress the vertical distance of the river's bends as they move toward the horizon, and widen its entry point significantly in the foreground.
Establish One Clear Anchor:
The painting currently has an internal battle for your viewer's attention. The massive scale of the tree, the glowing hills, the sharp lines of the river, and the dark peaks of the mountain are all shouting for equal importance. If everything is loud, the eye gets tired and doesn't know where to rest. Decide on a singular focal point—soften the edges and lower the contrast on the competing elements so your main subject can truly shine.
Good you changed that mustard hue over the mountain in back….
Waah❤❤
YES the lighting is SOOOOOO much better! Love the studio!
welcome back Kevin!!
Just beautiful love watching your videos all the time 👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️
Good job masha Allah
The tree looked good to me either way. It was good to see the process of correction though.
Здравствуйте Кевин 🤝))) Вы замечательный педагог художник. Спасибо вам за палитру. Спасибо за то, что дарите нам такие прекрасные роботы)))
Great work Kevin!🌳🖌🗻 and great new studio