 |
|
|
| Lost Mine Trail by Chris McHenry, 2006, 40 x 50. Collection the artist. |
|
|
|
|
|
My answer to that is nada! Zippo! Zilch! As the weather
heats up from coast to coast, now is the time when artists turn their attention
to the excitement of landscape painting. But I'll be honest with you. I'm still
intimidated by the whole landscape painting process. There seems to be so much
to contend with--the weather, changing lighting conditions, the weather, packing
correctly...did I mention the weather?
That's why I found such real inspiration in our latest
eBook, Landscape Painting Techniques:
Painting Light and Shadow in Your Landscape Art. Two artists, Joseph Bohler
and Chris McHenry, discuss how they each approach painting landscapes within
their chosen medium. Bohler is a watercolorist with an eye for simplified
compositions and objects and places that are timeworn. McHenry has a background
as a billboard sign painter and puts his experience to good use in his
landscape art, focusing on how to evoke a place without a lot of detail and how
to paint patterns of sunlight and shadow while sticking to big shapes.
|
 |
|
Joseph Bohler's approach is to enjoy the process
and paint simplified compositions. Above is
one of Bohler's works in progress.
|
|
|
From each artist I learned about how to use contrast to good
effect, what to focus on when you are first beginning as a landscape artist,
and what I should try to accomplish while painting outdoors vs. in the studio. But
most of all I was reminded of how deeply most landscape artists love what they
do. Bohler reflects that painting the landscape is one of the best, most
satisfying decisions he's ever made, and McHenry has been able to travel all
over the Southwest observing and painting the cities and natural wonders he
finds there. Sometimes when I get nervous about all the elements landscape
painters have to deal with, I forget that the whole point is to just be out there--breathing
the air, taking in the natural beauty around me, and enjoying it for all it is
worth.
Landscape painting is a joyful thing. At least, that is what
it comes down to for me. Our free eBook, Landscape
Painting Techniques: Painting Light and Shadow in Your Landscape Art gives
you insights into how to make the most of your painting session once you are
out there, and may remind you, as it did me, of all the inspiring things you'll
see when you step outside the studio. Enjoy!
