Learn to paint around shapes to create light and depth.
Your First Landscape
Landscapes are incredibly forgiving subjects for beginners. By focusing on simple shapes and atmospheric perspective, you can create a beautiful scene in just a few layers.
Step-by-Step Guide
- The Sky Wash: Wet the top half of your paper. Drop in a light blue at the top, letting it fade to clear water near the horizon. Let it dry completely.
- Distant Mountains: Mix a pale, cool purple/blue. Paint a jagged mountain range sitting on the horizon. The cool, pale color makes them recede into the distance. Let it dry.
- Foreground Hills: Mix a warmer, darker green. Paint rolling hills overlapping the bottom of the mountains. This darker, warmer color brings the foreground closer to the viewer.
- Details: Once dry, add a few simple vertical strokes in the foreground using a dark green or brown to suggest trees or grass.