Your Brush with Nature

The small stand of pine trees gives Heiner a chance to explain the various different species of trees, and how to represent them correctly in a plein air painting. Emphasis on making sure they are distinguishable from one another is stressed. The tall trees called for a vertical format.

Learn how to make muted colors in early spring into a harmonious painting full off life. Also learn what to look for when scouting a location to paint. You will be surprised how much nature and variety of colors can be found in unlikely locations as demonstrated in this extend length episode.

The episode starts outdoors painting the essence of a sunset melting into the trees over a tranquil lake. Then, Heiner takes us back to his studio to show us how to finish the painting using photographs and explaining his approach for touching up plein air paintings and finishing them. The results is something you won't want to miss! Heiner also teaches us "how to make white whiter than white".

Henier Hertling shows use several ways to create a larger canvas painting of an ornate Victorian style bridge at Meadow Brook Hall in Michigan and other ways to use the original plien air painting as reference. He demonstrates several important techniques such as how to create a halftone value study, scaling a plein air painting, and negative painting.

Heiner takes us along with him to a golf course in lower Michigan for a day of plein air painting. He proves to us that painting in the summertime when everything appears green doesn't mean you only use one color of paint. This episode is a great lesson for those wanting to improve their perception of color and interpreting variations of hues within single objects.

Outdoors in the summer, and especially at the golf course, everything seems to be green at first glance. Heiner shows you how to figure out where the color variations are and which ones are best to emphasis on your board or canvas to create depth and make an interesting composition. He also shows how to create nice and natural looking puffy clouds.

Heiner attends the yearly gathering of artists in Wyoming hosted by the Susan K. Black foundation, for a week long workshop. Interesting fellow artist watch and follow along as he demonstrates how to paint a beautiful rolling steam, with hazy mountains in the background.

It's fall and the trees are absolutely on fire in Wyoming by the Rocky Mountains. Heiner Hertling is there to paint mother nature and her beautiful colors. Also joining Heiner are several very large mammals. His fury friends are popping out of the woods, coming down hills and also in the distance. Heiner enjoys the wildlife and continues to show us techniques to make the fall colors pop.

Heiner Hertling is up in a mountain looking down at the dramatically different colors and textures of the Western American landscape to paint. Way into the distance are some amazing rock formations and mountains that could easily fit right into any of the old monster films with castles in the mountains. The view from  above looking down is breathtaking, especially during the sun-rise.

This Red Rock Challenge may very well be Heiner Hertling's toughest plein air painting to capture in 30 minutes yet. Heiner starts the painting with a thin turpentine wash of midtones. Then the biggest challenge is portraying the mountains and jagged rocks. He shows you several ways to capture the red rocks. This isn't going to be easy, but you only get better by stretching yourself.

It's a blustery fall day by an old farm building. The washed out crooked boards make for a fun design. There are still some fall color in the trees. Pockets of blue sky behind the dark clouds show us there is light. Lots of interesting things to paint. Join us for the adventure, and see if you can also capture the fading colors, while we still can.

Some of the most interesting plein air paintings arise from capturing that small window of time when nature is quickly changing and interacting with the environment. Heiner Hertling is on a mission to find the moment when storm clouds and sunlight collide into an aesthetically pleasing scene. It certainly is a challenge, but hopefully the final painting will be worth the effort.

It's snowing and Heiner is painting a stream emptying into a river. Several swans join him as he shows you how to paint snow, ice, moving water, fallen trees and more. Painting in the winter is a great exercise, because the blankets of snow help simplify your scene and make it easier to see the shapes and values around you.