Drawing landscapes is often done outside where the view can be referenced directly.
Tree landscapes are landscape drawings where the primary focus of the drawing are the trees within the landscape. Trees are often difficult to capture authentically in a drawing as each tree is uniquely individual even when it shares similarities of form and shape with other trees of the same type. This individuality needs to be present in the drawing as well as the conformity for the tree to feel real to the viewer. Creating a tree landscape starts by viewing a landscape directly or through images.
Instructions
1. Tape drawing paper down to your drawing table or board. Usually landscapes are drawn outdoors where you can see the landscape. Many artists use hard boards with clips and tape to hold their paper while they draw.
2. Sketch in the horizon line first. This is the line between the land and the sky and it will be roughly horizontal except when you are facing a mountain range. Hold your pencil lightly and sketch in the contours you see in the distance. In most landscapes as the object recedes in the distance it has a lighter tonal value. Block in these values by using varying pencils or changing how light or heavy you press on the pencil.
3. Reduce the contrast caused by the whiteness of the paper more by using tone to add value to the sky. Sketch in clouds and distant shapes with a light hand. Once the background of the landscape is established move your attention to shapes closer to you. As you rough in the basic shapes note the differences in value and make your tones darker and more prominent.
4. Sketch in an outline of the more detailed features in the foreground so that you establish an overall consistency to how the drawing is set up. Add more tonal values in the foreground looking at shadows as shapes. In this way you should be able to create a tonal arrangement of the landscape. This layering of different shades will help you construct and focus the landscape toward your focal point.
5. Draw in distant trees as shapes of foliage or architecture. If you are doing a winter landscape this becomes much more challenging since the architecture of each tree type becomes visible. In a summer landscape the architecture of the tree is only visible through window pockets where leaves are thin. It is important to sketch the size, shape and structure of the tree in the way the tree grows.
6. Block in the dimensions of the distant trees. Identify a line where the tree is mostly trunk below the line and foliage above the line. In the foliage areas of the trees the tree will branch to the sides into branches, limbs and twigs. Keep your distant trees in confirmation to height and shape even if they are not rendered in detail. The tone of distant trees should be consistent with other elements at the same distance.
7. Draw the trunks of foreground and focal point trees carefully. Look at the trunks as shapes and note their structure. After you outline the major trunks and limbs, erase the tonal work between your lines. This will force the tree forward visually and this allows you to modify the tone and the direction of your pencil strokes to bring attention to your focal point. Continue shaping the tree structure based on what you can see in the actual landscape. Closer objects will have darker darks and whiter whites.
8. Sketch in the arrangement of foliage. Use a squiggly line and try to draw without looking at the paper too much. Often foliage clumps in random ways with leaves off to the side or sections with no leaves at all. Continue detailing the areas of leaves until your focal point is clearly established. Darken along the sides of your tree trunks and note shadow areas that need to have a darker tone.
9. Add your darker tone values and pick out areas of texture and detail that bring the landscape to life. Use your stump and eraser to blend or add highlights until you are satisfied with the finished quality of your landscape.
