Landscape Drawing: BHS Grounds

Project:
Draw a landscape en plein air (on site, from direct observation). Use a viewfinder if you have one. Draw from life, draw what you see, and don't make things up. Compose the picture thoughtfully, so that you use the Golden Section for placement of important elements. Emphasize some focal points that you guide the viewer's eyes to settle on. Add a full, wide range of tonal values, using a set of drawing pencils or a single ebony pencil.

Objectives:

• Organize the observable world into a strong composition
• Indicate the light source through your use of tonal value.
• Indicate the effects of atmospheric perspective. Distinguish foreground, middle-ground, and background through changes in the level of contrast, detail and texture.
• Improve observational accuracy
• Improve rendering of three-dimensional form
• Improve ability to concentrate on the big picture rather than small details

Materials:

• Graphite (pencil set - Use B, 2B, 4B, and 6B pencils, or an ebony pencil)
• Eraser
• Pencil sharpener
• Sketchbook (11 x 14", 60 lb. paper) or whatever paper you have

Parameters

• Make this a "portfolio-worthy" drawing.

Resources
​Examples of student work and masterworks can be found at this link.

Grading Criteria:

• Design of the page - Organization of the landscape
• Realism of atmospheric perspective
• Realism of the landscape and its parts - Are they convincing?

Self Critique Questions
As you draw, ask yourself if you are doing the following (You should be!):

• Consider the entire page as a composition.
• Indicate that some forms have different tonal values than others.
• Indicate the effects of the light source