“Landscape Painting, An Economy of Detail” Q&A with Mitch Albala in Practique des Arts
Answers to questions about urban landscape, composition, harmony, and painting sunlight.
Mitchell Albala is an award-winning landscape painter, workshop instructor, and author. His semi-abstract and atmospheric landscapes have been exhibited nationally and are represented in corporate and private collections. He is the author of three popular books on landscape painting: "Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice (Watson-Guptill, 2009), with 70,000 copies in print; "The Landscape Painter's Workbook: Essential Studies in Shape, Composition, and Color" (Rockport Publishers, 2022), which has been the #1 selling book on landscape in the nation; and "New Lessons in Landscape Painting: Key Concepts and Exercises in Color and Composition" (Rockport Publishers, 2026). Mitchell leads painting workshops in the U.S. and has offered plein air adventures in Italy. He is also a master mentor with the online mentoring community Mastrius. He has lectured on Impressionism and landscape painting at the Seattle Art Museum and has written for International Artist and Artists & Illustrators magazines. Mitchell also hosts a popular painting blog, which hold the #11 spot on Feedspot.com's "90 Best Painting Blogs to Follow in 2026." He is a Signature member in both the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society.
Answers to questions about urban landscape, composition, harmony, and painting sunlight.
Learn how the underpainting color helps support the color direction.
Neutral colors don’t shout as loudly as bright colors, but they are very capable of building harmonious color relationships.
In the second of three articles, the unique dual nature of complementary colors are explored.
In the first of three articles, one of the most effective ways to create unity among colors is explored — analogous harmony.
How do we measure results and the speed of our progress?
More color isn’t necessarily better color. Learn how limiting color groups can produce more harmonious paintings.
Discover the power of the notan, a type of compositional study uniquely suited to defining patterns and shapes.
In these light-filled paintings, atmospheric and abstract effects find a balance with the detailed urban landscape.
Photos, artwork, and impressions from my Italian adventure, including video.