When we think of landscape paintings, a number of factors influence our imagination. Each image reflects our creativity and experiences, affected by our local environment and the artists we encounter. But what is it that makes some paintings of landscapes resonate with the viewer, and others fall flat in front of an audience? Here we go through the top three factors that create great painting art landscapes.
1. Is the focus of the painting clear or are our eyes flitting around?
In simple terms, this refers to how much of the canvas elements within the landscape occupy. Many factors influence the painting's creation and success, each having a unique impact on its overall composition and appeal.
Balance - symmetry is naturally pleasing to the human eye. Is a dominant rain cloud balanced by the weight of a foreground tree for example?
Focal Point - is there a clear area or object that commands the viewer's attention? Successful paintings of landscapes manage to both draw the eye and allow breathing space.
Composition - similar to balance, but on a more general level, an effective composition links all the above points together in a 'comfortable' way. Following the rule of thirds is the most simple example and avoiding a centrally placed dividing element or focus.
The painting 'Golden Touch, Petworth' (above) combines different elements to create an eye-catching artwork. Look at the balance of darks across the horizontal. The looming clouds above reflect the angular deep shadow of the foreground grass. The focus of the painting is also clear; distant lands provide a backdrop of cool tones to allow the focal point to sing proud.
2. How does lighting affect atmosphere and impact in paintings of landscapes?
When we think of atmosphere and lighting within a painting or scene, we often head straight for drama. However, just like in a band, a soloist cannot do much without the support of the other instruments. As with the most impactful landscape paintings, adding one or two bright spots among many mid-tones make the highlights stand out.
The painting 'Dancing Light' combines subtle tonal shifts with brighter highlights to create a cohesive and relaxing scene. Even without dramatic clouds or shadows, the impact of a sunlit field is still clear to the viewer. The painting has plenty of open space for the eye to rest before focusing on the main subject or soloist.
3. Does room exist for imagination, or have we rendered every detail?
This is a contentious point, somewhat more subjective than those previously mentioned. From a personal view, I like to leave detail aside to allow the viewer to fill in the gaps. Not only does this engage the imagination, but also brings a novel variation to the artwork.
Some of my favourite impressionist painters, like Edward Seago and John Yardley, use this technique masterfully.
The secret is to suggest just enough detail to illicit an interpretation of the subject without rendering it precisely. If employed successfully, omitting detail gives a painting life and variance for viewers.
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