Hey there, art enthusiasts. It’s Artie, your trusty pencil pal, back with another exciting drawing adventure! Today, we’re sketching a serene landscape that’ll make you feel all warm and cozy inside. Landscapes have inspired artists for centuries! The famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh created over 850 oil paintings, and nearly half of them were landscapes. So we’re following in the footsteps of great artists! Grab your pencils, and let’s dive right in!
First things first, let’s address an important decision about the background. We have two options: we can paint the background AFTER we complete all the main pencil work, covering the area for sky and behind the hills, leaving only some space for the sun and flowing waters. Alternatively, we can tackle it BEFORE we even begin. Personally, I prefer dealing with the background sooner rather than later. Why? It creates a sense of depth from the start, allowing you to build your composition on a solid foundation. It’s like setting the stage before the actors arrive!
To create the background, use a soft, slightly blunt pencil to cover everything except the river and sun areas. If you notice any white patches, gently smudge them with your finger to achieve a softer, more uniform color. This technique creates a misty, atmospheric effect that’ll make your landscape pop. With these preparations complete, let’s move on to the main elements…
Let’s begin with the main star of our show – the SUN! Right in the center of your paper, draw a big circle. Don’t worry about making it perfect; we’re going for a soft, dreamy look here. Add a few light circular strokes around it to give it that glowing effect. Isn’t it BRIGHT and beautiful? The sun’s light takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth. So when you’re looking at the sun (which you shouldn’t do directly!), you’re actually seeing it as it was 8 minutes ago!
Now, let’s divide our world between water and land. Draw a gentle wavy line across your paper, about a third of the way up from the bottom. This is where our river meets the hills – like nature’s own little border!
Speaking of our river, let’s make it FLOW! Add lots of horizontal lines below that wavy border we just drew. Keep them close together and try to make them as straight as you can. This gives our water that cool, reflective look. Here’s a cool fact: rivers don’t always flow south! While many do, rivers actually flow downhill regardless of direction. The Amazon River, for example, flows east, while the Nile flows north.
Time to add some HILLS to our horizon! On the right side, let’s draw a big, curvy hill. Start from the left slope and swoop it up and then down towards the edge. After that, we will do the same on the left side. See how they’re like two gentle giants watching over our scene? Did you know that hills are actually young mountains? Over millions of years, erosion wears down mountains into the gentler slopes we call hills. So, our landscape is like a snapshot in geological time!
But wait, there’s more! In between these big hills, let’s add two smaller ones. They’re like the big hills’ little buddies, hanging out in the middle. Draw them with softer, lower curves.
Now for some nature’s decoration – TREES! On the left side of your paper, near the top, let’s draw some bare tree branches. Start with a thicker branch extending from the edge, then add smaller, thinner branches sprouting off it. Trees are nature’s own air purifiers! A mature tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and release enough oxygen for two people. So by drawing trees, we’re adding some fresh air to our scene!
Let’s balance things out by adding branches on the right side too. Do the same thing – a main branch with lots of little twiggy friends reaching out. Make them twist and turn like they’re dancing in the wind! These trees are framing our sun like nature’s own picture frame!
If you decided to leave the background for the end, now’s the time to bring it all together. Use that soft pencil to fill in the remaining areas, excluding the river and sun. Remember, any lingering white spots can be smoothed out with a gentle finger smudge. This final touch will unify your composition, creating a cohesive and atmospheric scene.
And there you have it, friends! A beautiful, tranquil landscape that’s sure to bring peace to anyone who looks at it. Remember, art is about expressing yourself, so feel free to add your own twist to this scene!
If you enjoyed this tutorial, don’t forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more artistic adventures with yours truly. Keep those pencils SHARP and your imagination SHARPER! Until next time, this is Artie saying: happy drawing!
