Drawing Landscapes with Pencil & Ink

Have you ever wondered why some artists are always able to produce paintings that keep you interested in the scene every time you look at them? If you’re struggling to recreate that same interest and activity in your work, this art instruction video with master teacher and watercolor painter Tony Couch could be just the boost you need.

This lesson begins with Couch posing an important question about a series of four shapes on his canvas. After asking which you prefer the most, and which you like the least, Couch will explain how he predicted your response through basic knowledge of the shapes which are most appealing to the human eye. This will be the foundation for the lesson which will help you implement important elements and principles of design in all your paintings.

Couch continues by explaining that artists of all levels must learn how to utilize the basic elements and principles of design if they want to consistently provide their viewers with dynamic and interesting compositions. According to Couch, the elements of design-- line, shape, value, color, texture, and direction, and eternally connected to the principles of design-- balance, harmony, gradation, repetition, dominance, contrast, and unity.

Students will learn that all interesting shapes have three distinct characteristics: at least two dimensions, oblique lines or at least an oblique thrust, and incidents that break up the edges of the shape and provide an interesting focus for the viewer. Couch incorporates paintings by great artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Edward Hopper, Stewart Davis, Henri Matisse, Andrew Wyeth, Edgar Degas, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Edgar Whitney, as well as his own work to demonstrate the inter-relationships of these elements and principles of design.

Students will be inspired by these examples, and learn how to emulate their design qualities for better art, more interesting paintings, and unified artistic statements.