How to Paint a Fly Fisherman in Acrylic

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b Class Description

Fly-fishing is a game of skill coupled with tremendous patience. Skill, in knowing what food the fish are eating and then sorting out which fly or flies to use for the occasion. In this acrylic painting we will capture the tranquility of the scene and the beauty of the surroundings.

In this lesson you will learn:

1. How to brighten up a dull photograph.
2. How to change the colour of the water and liven it up a bit.
3. How to change the colour of the clothing to enhance the focal point.
4. How to add the thin fishing rod and line.

 You Will Need

16″x20″ (500mm x400mm) Canvas or similar
These paints: Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, French Ultramarine, Phalo Green, Raw Umber, Paynes Grey
Set of bristle brushes
Rigger brush
Fine liners

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Class Tutorial

Template

Transfer the template to the canvas with carbon paper. In this template the only part with detail is the fisherman. Just a few guide lines for the rest of the painting.

The background green mix

Squeeze out some Viridian or Phthalo Green and Cadmium Orange. Mix the orange into the viridian until you have a very neutral and realistic green for the trees. Viridian on its own is much too brilliant and unnatural for normal leaves.

Block in the background

Paint the dark green and carefully go around the profile of the fisherman.

Add in some White and Cadmium yellow mix for the area near the fisherman.

Highlight mix for trees

Squeeze out some Paynes Grey and mix some Yellow into it. Look at the lovely dull green it produces.

Roughly block in some of the areas that are catching the sunlight.

Painting the branches

Use a pastry brush, and some yellow green mix, dab in the leaves catching the sunlight. Use the one corner of the brush and constantly twist the brush so that a regular pattern is not formed.

The water underpainting

Take some orange and add the Phthalo Green to it and then lighten it with some White. Block in the stream with this mix.

Paint the right hand embankment

Paint this embankment using mostly a small bristle fan brush for the taller grass.

Paint the stream movement

Use a small bristle brush to indicate the water movement. There are also small patches of foam caused by underwater objects.

Opposite embankment

Paint some small rocks and logs that have drifted to the edge of the stream.

Add the bush

Using the pastry brush, paint the bush on the left hand side. This balances out the figure of the fisherman.

The stream's edge

With a small brush, randomly spot in some small rocks and stones. Add a bit of splatter as well to unify the effect. Add highlights to the larger stones.

The head and arms

The skin tones are painted with Burnt Sienna and a touch of white. Paint the shadows as well. The grey hair is a mix of blue with a touch of Raw Umber (Paynes Grey)

The white shirt

The shirt is painted with varying tones of Paynes Grey.

Paint the pair of jeans

The mix for the jeans is blue, touch of orange, and then some white.

Block in the jeans and the shoes.

Add the impression of the folds in the trousers.

Paint the bag

The shoulder bag is a slightly greyed down green and use Paynes Grey for the markings. Don’t try to detail it too much.

The fishing rod

Don’t try to paint it. Line up a ruler to the handle of the rod and with a sharp craft knife scratch it in. Take care if you are using a stretched canvas.