Skip to main content
Humanities LibreTexts

10: Landscape

  1. Last updated
  2. Save as PDF
  • Page ID
    63707

    • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Landscape Drawing

    Drawing or painting our surroundings is something artists have done for thousands of years. Most of the ancient images of landscapes are lost forever along with the plaster walls or other supports used in their creation. Some early paintings survive decorating the walls of palaces and rooms found in areas of volcanic activity in the ancient cities of Thera and Pompeii. These dwellings were buried in volcanic ash preserving the beautiful frescoes of flora and fauna. Additionally, during the Amarna Period in Egypt there was a flourishing of artistic activity unlike any the Ancient Egyptians previously experienced. Some of the artwork depicted natural scenes similar to landscapes with vitality and life.

    LANDSCAPE FROM 3,500 YEARS AGO!

    clipboard_ec269742693a1454a41405f08f9a0e0a5.png Blue_Monkey_in_the_landscape,_Minoan_fresco,_AMH,_145366.jpg

    Island of Thera, Minoan 2000 - 1400 BCE

    https://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/bitstream/handle/1808/10273/King_ku_0099M_12275_DATA_1.pdf;sequence=1

    https://www.cs.princeton.edu/courses/archive/spring07/cos598C/notes/4_feb_2007_presentation.pdf

    22.jpg

    Amarna Landscape 1353-1336 BCE

    https://www.amarnaproject.com/pages/amarna_the_place/north_palace/index.shtml

    https://www.britannica.com/art/Amarna-style

    DETAIL OF FLEMISH LANDSCAPE FROM 1500s

    clipboard_ececd1ddf163817f7dce41ae0b4c767c7.png

    NORTHERN RENAISSANCE LANDSCAPE

    • Take a look at this early Flemish 1500s painting of a landscape

    • What areas can you identify that help create the illusion of depth?

    • Some of these are known as Principles of Design, others are Art Elements

    • There are also three distinct areas of the landscape explained below

    clipboard_e5219250b1490ef754a6159bc842f0a14.png

    IDENTIFIABLE LANDSCAPE PARTS

    • Take a look at this 1800s painting of a landscape

    • What areas can you identify that help create the illusion of depth?

    • There are also three distinct areas of the landscape – can you name these three areas?

    • Answer below

    clipboard_e24c7867d31b27ce77bf293cc02beb363.png

    Answer: FOREGROUND, MIDDLE GROUND, AND BACKGROUND

    • Foreground is in yellow

    • Middle ground is in blue

    • Background is in violet

    clipboard_ecefc0356a4f31672d0b678d6fa54481b.png

    OTHER FACTORS

    • Notice that the landscape features a full range of values

    • The shapes with the highest contrast are closest to the viewer in the foreground

    • The Principle of Verticality is the landscape forms closest to us are located at the bottom of the visual field (area of the paper if a drawing, canvas if a painting)

    • The middle ground has less contrast and detail

    • The background has the least amount of contrast giving the illusion that the shapes “fade into the distance”

    • In a painting, the intensity of color may be brighter in the foreground and become less intense (more dull/diluted) in the middle and backgrounds

    clipboard_e24c7867d31b27ce77bf293cc02beb363.png

    “RULE OF THIRDS”

    • Rule of Thirds is dividing the visual field into thirds

    • Divisions into thirds can be horizontal, vertical, or both

    • It does not have to be exact, since it is an aesthetic design principle

    • Rule of Thirds applies nicely to landscape photography, painting, and drawing

    • The concept of the Rule of Thirds is a Principle of Design

    EXAMPLES OF 2-D ART USING RULE OF THIRDS LANDSCAPE FORMAT

    clipboard_eae50c124fe1b8ada9c882619b83e1623.png clipboard_e4e59da40909a7a636bf45df73961f575.png

    EXAMPLE OF RULE OF THIRDS PORTRAIT FORMAT

    clipboard_e50b33c88ae66a5c3e133b731e5fca16a.png clipboard_ecd57a39ca7dcbe343177e9fc5187dca9.png

    VERTICAL RULE OF THIRDS MAY RELATE TO FOREGROUND, MIDDLE GROUND, AND BACKGROUND

    • The foreground is made up of the large rocks

    • The middle ground features the closest trees

    • The background includes the lightest in value trees - fading them into the background

    clipboard_e50b33c88ae66a5c3e133b731e5fca16a.png

    CONTEMPORARY DRAWING

    clipboard_e7cf42f33cce04b61ba33c3e4dc23a31e.png

    clipboard_ec8e57582cda34523ba71f99f7c9404cd.png

    1500s DUTCH/FLEMISH PAINTING

    clipboard_e2cc234ec4237b01b13b742c7737bbb55.png

    NOT ALWAYS RULE OF THIRDS

    • This painting creates balance through asymmetrical placement of the sailboats

    • Other important factors include the use of light and shadow, repetition of forms (boat sails), shape of the clouds, and the placement of the horizon line

    clipboard_ec01beb238410ae2a9327d5963a707470.png

    LATE 1700S/EARLY 1800s BRITISH PAINTING

    clipboard_e1ecd4681554fb9a9ef45238efc97f9cc.png

    EARLY 1800s BRITISH PAINTING

    clipboard_ede65af1f2e77c2048f0715c3cba2f9b9.png clipboard_eed48b5d4a8401b3be8983d866f55353a.png

    EARLY-MID 1800s FRENCH PAINTING

    clipboard_e2e81b47bdcc8942d005cf1c8e5933212.png

    clipboard_e5e10a2163fc55e899500655dea00ddb3.png

    clipboard_e4e1508a1c4cc48a45a7a6b708eb5f5e8.png

    MID-LATE 1800s FRENCH PAINTING

    clipboard_e8863204828ca40b4f7afee60c7a8613f.png

    clipboard_e2187d4801c5895fb600c6fd9bbacc462.png

    clipboard_ed16b9c0dc43e71bbe52f4a4460c7fd2d.png

    clipboard_e38c52ac2a4cad8fed7ead2fdd6058a28.png

    MID-LATE 1800s AMERICAN PAINTING

    clipboard_e9123dd8b173b68aab84e4912e3134415.png

    clipboard_eb598dd0172f5e6fefa2f310d98fd9a77.png

    MID-1900s AMERICAN

    clipboard_e670996ac9df9b0f6fd0e6317569d59bd.png

    clipboard_efb195927797c7f21bea37eea7974c0bf.png clipboard_e9cf0591fbba355163cdd165a4f32d5b4.png

    LANDSCAPE DRAWINGS INCLUDING BUILDINGS

    clipboard_e9de1d2ba8270376f42a0e74f741cf1c8.png clipboard_e0a45d996e2009ded1361e4febc431f96.png

    CITYSCAPES

    If you include a building in your landscape, looking at these next several cityscape slides may help you

    clipboard_e3b0acad1499d0c78fc2c65f3bceede18.png clipboard_ea359b04ee747ea1eef7eb1af897e30ed.png clipboard_e864e63b346d9405395354fb9ac78a033.png

    Student Work

    IMG_4197-2.jpg

    Landscape Drawing Assignment

    Where to Begin?

    • Choose a place outside to draw where you can view a natural setting

    • If you successfully include a building that’s extra credit

    • Determine your eye level

    • Can you include a foreground, middle ground, and background?

    • Create a balanced composition by cropping

    • Possibly use “Rule of Thirds” to create balance

    • Use softer pencils from HB up to 6B and a full sheet of paper

    • Hold the pencil loosely and relax

    • Focus on values

    10: Landscape is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

    1. Back to top
    • Was this article helpful?

    Recommended articles

    1. Article type
      Chapter
      License
      CC BY
    2. Tags
      This page has no tags.