How to Paint Rain - Learn How to Paint

Rain (La pluie), 1889 by Vincent van Gogh

There is a great, yet little-known painting by Van Gogh, entitled “Rain Painting.” It was painted looking out the window of the psychiatric hospital in Saint Remy-de-Provence where he was admitted for one year. 

I like it in the way it is different from his other paintings with swirls and vibrant colors.

He accomplished this painting by 

• Using an array of muted colors, primarily to capture the feeling of a rainy day. 

• Incorporating slightly vibrant greens and purples to give it energy at the same time.

• Applying various white highlighted marks

The composition is structured both horizontally with distant trees and mountains and vertically, framing the wheat field.

This gridlike appearance contrasts nicely with the curved shapes in the background. These aesthetic devices add tension to the composition that is already generated by the feeling of rain and wind. 

Most of the energy takes place at the center of the painting where he applied the brushstrokes repeatedly with greens, purples, and sepia earth tones to focus the attention there and then out into the distance. The technique of adding darker streaks, more visible on the top part of the painting, only adds more energy to the painting. 

I teach painting techniques like this and others in my private painting lessons. Registration is open for private instruction if you want to learn more about this painting technique to capture movement in your landscape painting. I will be delving more in-depth into how to use brushes and palette knives to create this effect in addition to color mixing. Contact me directly or register online. I offer private painting lessons for beginners, intermediate-level, and advanced. I look forward to painting with you!