Looking at artists: landscapes

What is the course about?

This is a practical course in which the activities will be set to the context of historical approaches to landscape painting. In particular we will take inspiration from Caspar David Friedrich’s depictions of the sublime scale of nature and the movement toward expressive abstraction in the work of John Constable, and we will look at contemporary artists such as Maureen Gallace.

During the session your tutor will demonstrate easily accessible approaches to composition and tonal arrangement using simply black and white acrylic paint, on A3 or A2 paper and you will make your own painterly responses to share with the group. You will receive practical advice on painting trees and foliage, as well ways of achieving a variety of textures using both the brush and the palette knife. Working within the practical constraints of remote learning, the emphasis will be on how to achieve the strongest effects with a few simple materials

The course will be aimed at students of all levels.

At the end of the session the group will share and discuss their work and experiences. By the end of the course you will have developed an increased awareness of the structure, perspective and viewpoint in landscape painting and you will have had an opportunity to apply these ideas in your own practical work.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

• Different approaches to perspective in landscape painting.
• Composition, tone, and figure-ground relationships
• The influence of Romanticism on landscape painting
• Painting in a loose and expressive style.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

• Paint with both the brush and the palette knife to achieve a variety of light and weather effects.
• Make use of tone (light and shade) to add drama to your landscape paintings
• Put to use some composition techniques to structure a landscape painting
• Identify a variety of historical to approaches landscape painting.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

• All levels
• You should be computer literate

• You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information.
• You will be invited to take part in group discussions.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

• You will be taught online through demonstration, short presentations and group discussion
• You will need a space to carry out the painting activity and some space to leave work to dry as you may make more than one piece during the session
• Your tutor will make recommendations of exhibitions and books that will enable you to further your learning after the course.


Optional homework exercises will be given for you to practise during the week.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

• Brushes of a variety of sizes and shapes
• Cartridge paper approximately A3 or A2 in size, or lining paper cut in to size (available in hardware shops)
• Black and white acrylic paints (System 3 or Galeria are recommended budget brands). You can work with colour if you have space to do so comfortably, however you will be able to engage with the course fully using black and white alone.
• A Palette knife
• You may also use your own source material for reference, for example your own landscape photographs
• You will need a computer with secure internet connection, camera and microphone
• It is recommended that you cover your work surface to protect from paint spillages.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

• Painting courses with a focus on other genres such as portraiture or still life
• Looking at Artists – focus on colour and Looking at Artists – focus on Drawing and Mark Making.