Landscapes can come from the imagination.
Landscape is a traditional subject and has the capacity to express a wide variety of moods and sentiments. From the inspiring views of the Hudson Valley by Frederic Church to the awe-inspiring works of Caspar David Friedrich to the classically motivated work of Nicolas Poussin, landscapes have the power to move us like few other motifs. When looking for ideas for a landscape, try different subjects and compositions until you find a style that feels right. There is no right or wrong way to approach a landscape, and you can get wonderful results from a spectacular vista or a simple piece of turf.
Out the Window
Begin close to home and look out of your home and studio window for a landscape possibility. The advantage to this is that you can paint a scene while working indoors, and you will already be familiar with the subject, which will make the execution easier.
Vary Proportions of Land and Sky
Do a series of pictures where you work from the same landscape, but move the horizon line in each one. In the first, set the horizon line very low, so you have 90 percent sky and 10 percent land. In the next, set it in the middle of the picture, with a 50/50 split. In the last, set the horizon near the top of the picture, with 10 percent sky and 90 percent land. Notice the differences in effect--open or enclosed, inviting or intimidating--that each variety yields.
Earth Colors
Use only earth colors (siennas, umbers, and ochres), along with black and white. Try to get as many different colors as you can from the limited palette and notice how when you sacrifice the more intense colors, you get a warm and cohesive color harmony.
Imaginary Landscape
After doing a few landscapes, you will have a good idea about how they should be structured. Try doing an imaginary landscape out of your head. Do some preliminary sketches first, to see what works, before transferring the final drawing to the canvas, and give yourself complete freedom in color and form choices.
