Landscape Painting Techniques

Planning

Start your landscape painting process with thorough planning. Make small, preliminary sketches or take photographs of the scenery you want to capture.
Identify a focal point within your scene. This could be an object, a particular area of light, or a strong color that draws your eye.
Take note of the time of day and how the sun, shadows, and colors change the landscape appearance. Use these changes to your advantage.

Composition

When setting up your landscape composition, consider using the rule of thirds as a guideline. This divides the scene into 9 equal parts to create balance.
Bear in mind to incorporate foreground, midground, and background elements in your composition to generate depth.
Position larger objects or details closer to the foreground and smaller ones in the background to create a sense of distance and perspective.

Painting

Establish the sky first as it sets the tone for the rest of your scene, considering factors like weather and time of day.
Paint the background next, keeping it muted and light to generate depth.
Move onto the midground using darker hues and more details. Incorporating elements like trees or buildings helps establish scale.
Details and stronger colours will be used in the foreground. Incorporate textural details such as grass, leaves, flowers, rocks, etc., to make it engaging.
Finally, paint the focal point which should ideally be the most prominent and detailed part of your landscape painting.

Observing and Incorporating Light

Always take note of the primary light source in your painting.
Accentuate the shadows and add highlights where the light source hits the elements of your scene.
Use these variations in light and shade to suggest details and texture.

Building Texture and Details

Use visible brush strokes to convey texture, such as the roughness of a bark or the softness of a cloud.
Consider using palette knives for creating thick, impasto strokes for added texture and depth.
Pay attention to subtle colour variations in your landscape. Build them up with glazes or layers of thin paint.

Re-evaluating and Finishing

Step back often to evaluate and make improvements where needed.
Develop contrasts in the details and the darkest areas at the last stage of painting.
After completion, make use of a varnish to protect your painting and heighten the colours.

Remember that landscape painting, like any other form of art, requires continuous practice and experimentation. Do not fear making mistakes or trying out unconventional techniques. It’s through these experiences you’ll find your unique style and add your voice to the genre.