Tutorial “Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn” by John O’Keefe Jr.

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn by John O'Keefe Jr.

This was my fourth oil painting and first original composition. Using pencil and paper, I roughed out this simple sketch. I decided to use a canvas size of 12×16. Before this painting, I would select colors from a large pallet of oil paints in my studio and do a little mixing of colors. However, this painting was my first time using a limited color pallet. Please enjoy my tutorial “Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn” by John O’Keefe Jr.

Composition and Materials – “Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn”

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn, Composition Sketch
Composition sketch
  • Support: Pre-Stretched & Mounted Medium Textured Cotton Canvas (Acrylic Primed)
  • Size: 12 x 16 inch
  • Medium: Winsor & Newton Winton Student Grade Oil Paints
    (Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, Cadmium Yellow Deep, Titanium White, Raw Umber, Cadmium Red, and Lemon Yellow)
  • Finish: Winsor & Newton Dammar varnish

Step-By-Step Tutorial – “Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn”

(Note: The progress photos are not the best quality concerning accurate color representation. However, the finished painting photos represent the actual colors.)

Day 1

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - Day 1

Using a medium-sized brush, I blocked in the sky, distant land features, near land features, and the initial layer of the dirt road.


Day 2

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - Day 2

The painting had too many blues, so I changed the sky colors, distant left features, and the field. I blocked in, using raw umber, my hills to the left and right, and added details to the dirt road, such as the wagon tracks. Finally, I began to add lighting and shadows across the field and the road.


Day 3

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - Day 3

It was time to add the house and the smaller trees next to it. In front of a large field was the house. To the left and right are small trees and shrubs.


Day 4: Composition Ideas for Adding Trees

I originally intended to add trees to this painting; however, after the trial runs, I was unsure about adding them. The final oil painting does not have trees. One day (If I do not varnish the painting first), I may add trees when I feel more comfortable creating them.

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - John's composition ideas 1
Computer experimentation with trees
Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - John's composition ideas 2
Painted glass overlay with trees.

Day 4: Lighting Adjustments

I changed the field beyond the house to a body of water and added light and shadow along the road, envisioning the sun setting and casting long shadows. I painted the shoreline along the far side to make the water look believable.

However, after looking at this painting for a while, I was not pleased with the lighting along the sides. Using my computer, I played around with various lighting changes. I wanted to get the setting sun reflected in the foreground hills to the left and right. My final concept is with a before (Day 4 painting) / after (Day 4 digital edits) image.

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - Day 4 animation
Before/After Animation.

Day 5

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn - Day 5

The changes from Day 4 are in this final picture.


Finished Painting“Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn”

Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn, Framed
Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn, Desplayed

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial “Peaceful Connecticut Valley in Autumn” by John O’Keefe Jr.