How to Draw a Landscape

You're good at drawing small still life objects but you'd like to try drawing a landscape. Landscapes include a horizon, the sky and a land mass. With a little practice, you can draw a landscape that looks real enough to be a photo.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look at landscapes at different times of day to see how the colors change. Pay attention to where the sun appears and what shadows you will see as the sun moves across the horizon. Visualize your drawing from either a close-up or a distant view. You'll see different parts of the landscape depending on how far away you are from your focal point.

2. View the landscape as if you were looking through a camera. Choose how much of the landscape you will draw. Once you decide your distance, decide your viewpoint. You will see different things depending on whether you look at the landscape from an angle or straight on.

3. Decide where your detail will be. You will be drawing a foreground, a background and a middle ground, but most of your detail is in the foreground. You can detail the plants, trees or any people in the foreground.

4. Start with a horizon when you begin your drawing. The horizon is a line in the middle of the page or slightly above the middle and is the center point of your drawing. Draw the land forms after you have completed the horizon. Shade the land forms to show shape and character and then add details.

5. Color the sky, the land forms and the foreground details when you are finished sketching the formations. You can use lifelike colors or shades of gray if you wish to have a black and white sketch of the landscape.

6. Remember to place the stars and moon correctly in a night sky. Consider the time of night and the time of year. Put the sun in the correct place depending on the time of year and the time of day. The sun will be low on the horizon at daybreak and sunset. Add clouds to your sky for a more realistic look.

7. Add trees and grass to depict a summer, spring or fall day. Play with shades of green and characteristics of the plants to depict different times of year. Draw barren trees for a winter landscape. Draw mountains, valleys and water to show different areas. You can be inland or on a coast. Add pathways and curvy roads to create a realistic-looking landscape.