Improving Landscape Composition with Perspective Cues and Land- or Sky-Dominant Cropping
In the field, the plein air painter needs to be able to extract essential cues from an otherwise boring composition.
Browsing: Landscape Theory
What Color is Your Underpainting? The Monochromatic and Two-Color Methods
Learn how the underpainting color helps support the color direction.
Landscape Color Strategies: Part 3 – The Harmony of Neutrals
Neutral colors don’t shout as loudly as bright colors, but they are very capable of building harmonious color relationships.
Landscape Color Strategies: Part 2 – The Harmony of Complements
In the second of three articles, the unique dual nature of complementary colors are explored.
Landscape Color Strategies: Part 1 – The Harmony of Analogy
In the first of three articles, one of the most effective ways to create unity among colors is explored — analogous harmony.
The Power of Color Grouping in Landscape Painting
More color isn’t necessarily better color. Learn how limiting color groups can produce more harmonious paintings.
Getting the Light Right: The Power of the Color Study
Color studies are the best way to test a color strategy before starting a painting and to expand your expand your color vocabulary.
“The Approach” – Four Essential Steps to Plein Air Painting
Four key steps, often overlooked by plein air painters, can increase your chances of success.
The Affect of Value on Color Identity in Impressionist Painting
With a “color-priority” system, the Impressionists allowed colors to retain their intrinsic color identity.
Ways of Interpreting Landscape Color: In the Studio vs. Plein Air
In plein air we attempt a direct translation of color, while In the studio, we are freer to be inventive with color.