Sketching Project Topic 3: Landscapes
This page is about the third topic of the Sketching Project, a long-term endeavour created to help everyone learn or relearn sketching. You can find more information on the project on the following pages:
The topic has 3 months worth of sketching prompts, so that’s plenty for you to try out and really get familiar with the different forms of landscape.
All you need to do to get started is have a quick read through the outline, get your materials ready and follow the drawing prompts for each week. I recommend starting with Topic 1: Still Life, but you can change the order of topics and start with Landscapes if you’re more in the mood for some scenery.
Have a look at my collection of Landscape-related posts for some all the tips and tricks on the topic and learn how to draw landscapes well.
Landscape Sketching Prompts
Wherever possible you should try to draw on location, however some of the options on the list can be done at home from a picture (for example if you don’t have any mountains around).
For some great tips and tricks on drawing outdoors have a look at my 8 handy Tips for Drawing and Painting Outside.
Week 1: Japanese- or French-style Gardens (neatly maintained)
Week 2: Trees and Forests
Week 3: Beaches
Week 4: Skies
Week 5: Still and Moving Water
Week 6: Grass and Bushes
Week 7: Storm, Rain and Mist
Week 8: Rocks and Mountains
Week 9: Copying popular Landscapes (such as Friedrich's Wanderer above the Sea of Fog)
Week 10: Rainforests
Week 11: Close-ups
Week 12: Snow and Ice
Some thoughts I’ve had while sketching Landscapes
I see now why the Impressionists liked drawing outside so much. You're really much more "in the zone" with at least three of your five senses in use.
The combination of drawing and sitting in a pretty wood has to be the most relaxing thing that ever existed. I'm just so zen right now I almost feel sedated.
I couldn't take my sweet time drawing even if I wanted to. I look away for one second and I swear the sun moved those shadows an inch.
Using wet paint outside in the summer means you're spending an obscene amount of time picking bugs and flying plant bits off the paint. It's hard to be an artist.
A lake right before sunset is a stunning view, but is it worth putting up with the midgets for? I seem to be catnip for anything that flies, so I'm not entirely sure.
The good thing about landscapes is that they’re just so ‘alive’. The bad thing is that the’re so alive they’re constantly moving, be it with the sun or in the wind.
Main difficulties I’ve faced sketching Landscapes
Nature's textures are so complex. There are millions of leaves on a tree or blades in a patch of grass. I had to practice a lot to learn how to simplify the shapes with them still being recognisable.
Compating monotony. What looks varied in nature can appear a bit boring in a black and white drawing if not done correctly. A huge patch of bushes with varying shades of green often needs several different textural approaches in a pencil sketch, to add interest.
Hard time making decisions. At times nature can be a bit too pretty even. Everywhere you look there’s the perfect subject to sketch, be it a wide-angle view of a lake or a closeup of a flower opening in the morning sun. I find it helps to decide on a rough theme first, before going out to find the right view.
Things I’ve learned during this Topic
Sketching is so much like sports. You need regular practice to keep in shape and improve. Even a few weeks off can set you back a lot.
I did not enjoy sketching one bit when I was completely out of shape. I had to force myself to keep going for weeks until it stopped being a chore. But now I’m back to loving it!
Just as with everything else there’ll be good days and bad days. Sometimes you just can’t seem to get anything right, for no apparent reason.
Other Topics
You can find all the finished topics of the Sketching Project below:
