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Here are 10 practical and creative tips for landscape painters, whether you’re painting en plein air or in the studio:
- Simplify the Scene
Nature is complex. Before you start painting, identify the main shapes and values. Squint to blur out details and focus on large masses and composition.
- Establish a Focal Point
Choose where you want the viewer’s eye to go. Let that area have the most contrast, detail, or intensity. Avoid scattering interest equally across the canvas.
- Work from Background to Foreground
Start with the sky and distant elements, then build forward. This helps with depth and avoids muddying overlaps.
- Mind Atmospheric Perspective
Distant objects appear cooler, lighter, and less detailed. Use this principle to create depth—think soft blues and grays for faraway hills.
- Use a Limited Palette
Fewer colors mean better harmony. Many landscape painters stick to primaries plus white and an earth tone or two.
- Observe Light and Shadow Carefully
Note the direction, color temperature, and edge quality of light. Shadows are not just gray—they often carry color.
- Paint Outdoors When Possible
Direct observation teaches more than photos can. En plein air painting sharpens your eye for light, color, and timing.
- Edit Ruthlessly
You’re not copying nature—you’re composing a painting. Feel free to move a tree, change a horizon line, or omit clutter.
- Use Varied Brushwork
Let your strokes reflect texture: soft for clouds, rough for bark, loose for grasses. Energy in the brushwork can evoke atmosphere and movement.
- Finish with Fresh Eyes
Step back frequently. Better yet, return to the painting the next day. Landscape painting benefits from breaks and reassessment.