Conrad Jon Godly’s Mountain Paintings Drip from the Canvas

When looking at Swiss painter Conrad Jon Godly’s mountainous paintings, it takes a moment to truly appreciate the incredible skill behind what seems to be such an effortless application of paint. Up close the landscapes appear to be a thick, almost random mix of blue, white and black, the result oils mixed with turpentine to create a thick impasto that Godly often leaves dripping from the canvas. Take a few steps back (or just squint your eyes a bit) and miraculously you might as well be looking at a photograph of the Swiss Alps. It’s a visual trick that the artist has perfected in both small and large-scale paintings over the last few years.

Godly studied as a painter at the Basel School of Art from 1982 until 1986, but then worked as a professional photographer for 18 years. He only returned to painting in 2007 and it would seem his photographic work has had a subtle influence on his abstract painting. The artist most recently had exhibitions at Gallery Luciano Fasciati and Tony Wuethrich Gallery in Switzerland, and you can see many more paintings on his website. (viaOEN, A Wash of Black)

Artist's Network: Luminous Landscape Paintings in Oils

I'm working on one of my oil painting now and I was stuck with creating a stunning light and beautiful clouds in the landscape painting. So I looked up landscape oil painting techniques on internet, and this video popped up. Even it was not a complete one, I could still steal some his techniques.

I have to separate my brushes into different color tones, at least into warm color and cold color. I used to paint with only two brushes and always ended up mixing the color to a really ugly hue. Using paper towel is not always working as I'm not unable to create a warm color after the brush has dark blue on. Adding light and dark tone can create distance btw.

Perspective line is so important in landscape painting. Making a draft and positioning the vanishing point can create a nice sense of reality.

I also used to focus on small stuffs and start with details. That's so inefficient and will messed up when I begin with another object. So always start with the big picture - perspective line or general outlines of elements in the landscape you are going to draw.

Those are experience and I hope you could get your take-away.