Watercolor Landscapes

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This is a practical hands on guide to Watercolor Landscapes.

I am going to present to you a "non encyclopedia" approach and give you a no fuss, logical way to paint a landscape and have fun doing it.

Before we start, get comfortable maybe a favorite beverage would be in order.

Make your mistakes, goofs and failures work to help you in painting a landscape.

A failure in often in the eye of the beholder.  WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN  Your personal expectations outstrip your technical abilities.
Many vacation (holiday) photographs brought to class by students with the announcement that this is the one I want to paint.  I am looking at the interior maybe of a place of worship, light streaming through stained glass windows way beyond their capabilities.

During classes, I find myself repeatedly giving the same advise, there is a lot to learn and it takes time and continued reinforcement of learning basic principles that is often pushed aside in the enthusiasm to paint the interior of that Cathederal or that crashing wave hitting the coastline.

Some students regard their landscape as a failure, but in reality they are merely unfinished because they lack, a level of understanding of the basic skills of Watercolor techniques, design, tonal values, composition and color which is necessary before they can cast judgment.

My students never make the same mistake twice........never.......it's something like twenty or thirty times. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE - Landscapes.

And you will not be any different just use them as learning stepping stones.
Knowledge and ability tend to creep up on you and you will not notice this happening....but others will.

You will develop more self confidence and above all the ability to see the world around you, previously you were just merely glancing.

You cannot paint by just glancing you must see shapes, colors, shadows etc.

We are now ready to start our journey into landscape painting my thoughts and help will always be your side.

WATERCOLOR EASELS PAINTING  LANDSCAPES

One of the most popular forms of art is that of a landscape painting. A landscape painting captures the feel and the beauty of a certain special place. A good landscape painting will make the viewer feel that they are right there in the painting. They feel as though they can breathe the very air of the painting and reach out and touch the landscape as if it were real. But to make an audience feel this way when they view your landscape painting, you are going to need a bit of practice.

A landscape painting should make you feel like you are in a deep space. When viewing it you should feel as though you were right inside the painting. It should be both spellbinding and beautiful. To attain this, there are some tricks to it.

The first trick is to use clarity. An example of this is to show a thick fog over some hills in the distance, and have the fog fade as you get to the hills towards the front.

A second trick is to use a winding path, such as a trail, a creek, or a river. This makes people feel as though they are deep within the painting. A third trick is to use size to your advantage. A tree up close should be large, while a tree far away should be small. This enhances the viewer's feel of the distance and expanse of the landscape.

One thing you have to remember about a landscape painting is that it doesn't have to show exactly everything you see. If you don't want to paint every tree you see, then don't. If you want to put a bird in the sky, then put a bird in the sky. If you don't like the color of some flowers, then feel free to change the color to one you approve of. If you don't like to include the people you see in the landscape, then take them out.

If you want to change the color of the sky from a gray evening to a dark evening, then change away. Use your imagination and do as you will. It is all up to you. Your goal with the landscape painting is to dramatically capture the feel of the landscape, not to show everything in it. If a landscape painting was supposed to be an exact duplicate it would be called a photograph, not a painting.

A great landscape painting will enhance your artist capabilities. It can also help you make some extra pocket change being how popular these paintings are. Anyone would want a beautiful landscape painting to compliment there home or office. With all of these tips and tricks in mind, you should be on your way to creating a masterful landscape painting. Perhaps one day you can be a world renowned landscape artist!

WATERCOLOR PAINTING IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

There is something quite magical about painting outdoors. I feel comfortably secluded with nature having an almost spiritual connection when I paint a landscape. Landscape painting is a passion of mine. I would like to share some tips and techniques that I have become accustomed to using over the years.

My first bit of advice - try not to get overwhelmed by the scene in front of you. I recall when I first began painting landscapes I tried to copy everything exactly as I saw it. I tried to squeeze in every detail, paint every leaf, branch, and blade of grass. You will go crazy approaching a landscape this way.

Try and paint your own impression of what you see and not a copy of it. Squint your eyes and see the landscape as a series of shapes, lights and darks, as opposed to seeing every detail. You can accomplish some amazing things that you never thought were inside, if you just relax, and let the painter inside come to the surface.

Painting on location is certainly a beautiful experience, but remember that you have to paint quite fast as the lighting will change quickly. I usually begin my paintings using a larger brush. This prevents me from focusing on the details and enables me to establish the major components of the painting.

I also take a few shots of the scene with a digital camera. In the event that I am unable to capture the scene in one sitting, I now have a reference photo to complete the painting in my studio.

Creating the illusion of depth or distance in your paintings can be accomplished using different techniques. You can adjust your colors by making them cooler and less intense for the distant objects, warmer and more intense for closer objects. Reduce the size of objects as they recede. You can also take away details and sharp edges to make objects appear more distant.

You should have a focal point, otherwise known as "center of interest" in your painting. All other objects in your painting should not compete with your focal point and should serve to draw the viewer to your center of interest.

Instead of jumping right for the paint, use a pencil and paper instead. Drawing is great practice. When I am drawing, I am more relaxed and intimate with the scene. I am training myself to see the various lights and darks of the scene without the use of color.

Bring only those items that you know you will need and use. When you focus too much of your time on lugging around unwanted materials, it takes away from the enjoyment of what you came there to do, paint!

Painting clouds appears to be one of the bigger challenges for beginners; I know it was for me. What I mentioned in the beginning about trying not to paint every detail applies to clouds as well.

Clouds are three-dimensional objects made up of water and ice particles that reflect light so the color of your clouds will vary depending on the weather and lighting conditions. Remember general perspective rules when painting clouds. Clouds closer to you will generally be more detailed. As they recede into the distance they begin to lose detail and get smaller in size. Pay special attention to the edges of the clouds as sharp edges advance while smooth edges recede.

Make your composition as interesting as possible by balancing positive and negative space in your painting. The negative space surrounds the positive space and is equally important. Do not neglect the negative space, but at the same time, do not let it dominate your composition.

I hope this article on landscape painting tips was helpful. Just relax, let go and most importantly enjoy yourself!