landscape drawing

www.letraset.com

How to draw a landscape or a scenery picture: by Jan Kowalewicz

How to draw a landscape or a scenery picture with Tria Markers

Jerzmianki Church in Poland as an example by Jan Kowalewicz

Welcome to Letraset’s ‘How to Draw’ Tutorials by Jan Kowalewicz

Use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen to move through the tutorial.

www.letraset.com


A general note...

We divide the process of drawing into three phases. The first phase is drawing everything linearly. In this phase we decide where all the objects are, we set the composition, the frame and the centre of the drawing. The second phase covers making all the details, the third – the shadows.

When we plan a drawing, we have to remember about a few features which are significant for a good composition. These are: light, contrasts, communication lines and intersection points of perspective.

www.letraset.com


Communication linesThese lines help to organize the space in the process of drawing and reception as well. They lead our eye into the depth of the picture, show us far background. Therefore, it is important to put them into the composition

Intersection points of perspectiveEvery time we want to form a geometrical structure, e.g. a building, we need to set the intersection points of perspective. We have three such points at most – one for each dimension. Points of depth and width are located on the line of the horizon. Point of height depends on the frame and the composition.- horizontal – vertical – diagonal- dark - light- sharp – smooth (texture of objects)- heights – depressions

LightWe have to think where the source of the light is. We never draw objects along the line of the light. In such a case the picture becomes flat and lacks of depth.

ContrastsContrasts in the picture give the observer dynamism and tension. Moreover, contrasted objects look stronger. For example we use such contrasts as:- openwork – solid- horizontal – vertical – diagonal- dark - light- sharp – smooth (texture of objects)- heights – depressions

www.letraset.com


Let’s get it started! – the first phase.

It is good to make the first stage of drawing with the lightest hue. The picture is drawn by CG 09 and CG 06 Tria Markers.

The first stage of drawing includes:1: a line of the horizon2: a human figure3: a draft of main objects (remember about the contrasts)4: a draft of the background.

www.letraset.com



If we want to draw a scenery or a landscape, it is crucial to start with the horizon line. At the beginning, we draw the line in 1/3 or 1/4 of the paper-sheet. The higher you draw the line, the more ground you have to fill with grass, rocks etc. The picture is drawn as if the observer would be standing at the same level as the man drawn in the centre. For the person who stands on the ground, the horizon line goes through the head of any person (of similar height) that is in sight and stands on the same level. Everything what is above this line, is higher than the observer; everything that is below – is smaller or lower.

Pic.01. The first step – set the composition; CG 09 and CG 06 Tria Markers.

www.letraset.com



Having drawn the horizon, we draw a human figure.

We draw the human to give scale to the surroundings. People in the picture are very important objects for the composition, especially when we draw architectural forms. It is because any structures that are built by human are used by people. If there are no figures, the picture emanates with emptiness.

Pic.01. The first step – set the composition; CG 09 and CG 06 Tria Markers.

www.letraset.com



Contrast of objects: Openwork of the tree and solid of the church

Pic.02.

www.letraset.com



Contrast of objects: Heights and depressions

Pic.03.

www.letraset.com


Let’s get it started! – the first phase.Now we set the composition, keeping in mind the contrast features mentionedabove (pic. 02., pic. 03., pic. 04.), in the following order:

- form the body of the church,- draft the frame of the tree in the foreground

- draft tree in the background- draft the shape of the terrain- draft barns and cottages

- set the line of far background forestThat is the end of the first phase. We have all the objects settled. The frame and thecomposition will not change any further.

Pic. 04. Contrast of objects: horizontal - vertical

www.letraset.com


There and back again – the second phase.

The first thing we do now is making a decision – where the centre should be. It is not strict geometrical middle of the paper-sheet. However, it is near to it. The centre of the picture is the place where the sketch is most condensed with lines, most drawn and, at last but not least, where the observer has to look first.

From now on, we saturate the picture with more and more details and lines up to the darkest hues of colour we use according the following scheme.

We start with CG 09 and CG 06 markers which we put on all the picture with more or less the same intensity. Than we use darker and darker hues on more and more concentrated space of the picture.

Pic. 05. Setting the centre of the picture

www.letraset.com



Saturation and giving details with CG 04 Tria Marker using painting-brush tip.

Pic. 06.

www.letraset.com



Because of the specific character of marker drawing technique, we start to bring shadows before the end of the second phase. As we can see adjacent (pic. 07.), at this stage we start to use stains to give darker (CG 06) hues of far background forests, the texture of stone of the church, the clothes of the man and the shadows.

The details in picture are drawn with CG 04 marker to contrast them with the background. It is important for the harmony of the composition not to forget about all the mess and stuff on the ground like rocks, grass, roughness of the terrain.

Pic. 07. progressive saturation and details (CG 04); adding stains using wide tip of the marker (CG 06)

www.letraset.com



The far background are almost finished. To give an effect of deep space view, we leave them drawn without many details and with just the two lightest hues of our markers. It is important to keep the contrast of light (pic.09.). The darker stains give the light ones a chance to shine.

Pic. 08. progressive saturation, details and stains using the marker CG 06 and CG 04

www.letraset.com


There and back again – the second phase. All the shadows have to go in one direction. In

this way we avoid the common mistake in which the light goes from different sources at one time. In our example we have the sun not too high on our left. Long shadow of the church covers the tree partially and lays on the path where a small human figure is walking. Notice that the head of that person is on the line of the horizon. That gives us an impression of scale and distance.

Finally we concentrate drawing with CG 02 marker mostly on the church and giving a few lines with CG 01 marker just to show few of its details. It is important to remember that the shadows that are laid are darker then the shade of not illuminated surfaces.

Pic. 09. progressive saturation, details and stains; marker CG 04 and 02

www.letraset.com


Pic. 10. Final saturation and details; marker CG 02 and 01

landscape drawing

Documents