When it comes to learning how to paint, it’s very important to create a believable composition with clear and dark values. This may sound easy but sometimes it’s a difficult task to accomplish, especially if you are a beginner. The rule of all the professors is ¨ the more often you paint, the better you get¨. This is true because we learn from experience, but when we talk about creating a landscape on a blank canvas, you may need a couple tips that will elevate your daily learning practice.While I practice these rules for my golf landscapes, they apply to all kinds of landscapes.
In this blog post, we will provide you our 4 favorites tips for a perfect landscape painting.
During sunny days, the colors are warmer and more intense. Which means that your overall painting should have this warm feeling.
When their is sunlight, the makes colors are lighter. When we want to show an element with sunlight, you should paint lighter and warmer. However, if the sunlight is reddish or bluish, all the elements should have some reflection of those colors.
However during overcast days, colors are duller and the value changes are less remarkable.
Whenever you are hiking or driving up a mountain or hill and suddenly you stop to take a picture of the wonderful view of the city or landscape. Something that you will notice is that all of the elements closest to you are darker, more defined and crisper. However, the ones that are close to the horizon have a grayer and lighter color. This happens because the humidity that the air contains creates a filter that affects the colors. Apply the same thought whenever you are going to start your landscape painting.
Starting a painting can be overwhelming sometimes. That’s why is very important to focus on your focal point, in what elements you include and which don’t. Also, you may have to select a part of the landscape according to the size of your canvas. Remember that you are the artist and you are the one who chooses. You can eliminate or move an element to another area of the painting. If it doesn’t make sense for the success of your composition, just simplify your panorama.
If you are done with your painting but you feel that it needs some adjustments of color or value, you can still do it! However, I would recommend always having a reference, like a picture. If that’s the case and you want a successful painting, you can use any editing program to change the color of the whole image or a specific element.
With these 4 points you may start or continue your learning practice. Remember that the more often you paint, the better you get!
Keep painting!
Oakland Hills Country Club, Hole #16
Bay Harbor Golf Club, Bay Harbor, MI, The Quarry, Hole #15
