1202 Still Before the Storm

In 1202 Still Before the Storm, from the Jerry Yarnell School of Fine Art PBS television series, Jerry guides intermediate artists through a dramatic acrylic painting lesson featuring two horses traveling along a peaceful country road beneath an approaching storm. This intermediate-level lesson is approximately 120 minutes and is painted on an 18 x 24 canvas. The finished painting features towering storm clouds illuminated by brilliant golden sunlight, a winding country road reflecting the warm light from the sky, rustic fence posts, green fields, and two horses walking quietly through the countryside. The contrast between the dark, threatening clouds and the glowing sunlight creates a beautiful atmosphere of anticipation and tranquility before the storm.

The dramatic stormy sky is one of the most important features of this painting. Jerry teaches how to develop large, billowing storm clouds using carefully blended colors, contrasting values, and dramatic highlights. You'll learn how to capture brilliant sunlight breaking through the clouds, creating glowing golden edges against darker gray and purple storm formations. Special attention is given to controlling light and shadow throughout the sky and carrying that same warm illumination into the landscape below. These fine art techniques help create the convincing appearance of an approaching storm while preserving the peaceful mood of the countryside.

As the painting progresses, Jerry demonstrates techniques for creating the two horses, including their natural shapes, proportions, flowing tails, and the highlights and shadows that define their bodies. This step-by-step acrylic painting tutorial also explores how to develop the winding country road, rustic fence posts, distant trees, and sunlit grassy fields. Carefully placed reflections and highlights along the damp road create the appearance of moisture catching the light from the stormy sky. By combining soft distant scenery with stronger foreground contrasts, Jerry creates a beautiful sense of depth and distance while keeping the horses and dramatic sky as the main focal points.

Still Before the Storm is an excellent lesson for intermediate artists who want to improve their skills in painting dramatic storm clouds, glowing sunlight, realistic horses, wet country roads, light reflections, and peaceful rural landscapes. Jerry's step-by-step instruction brings these individual fine art techniques together to create a beautiful countryside painting filled with dramatic lighting, rich colors, natural textures, and the quiet anticipation of an approaching storm.

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