Materials List and Workshop Outline for Landscape Sketching for All Levels
Instructor: Colleen Harrigan
This course accommodates both beginners and more advanced participants. The goal is to guide students through basic techniques, provide hands-on practice, and help them develop their skills. The class will incorporate instruction, demonstration, and time for students to practice.
Total Duration: 3 hours
Drawing from observation offers numerous benefits, including improved technical skills, enhanced attention to detail, critical thinking, and visual memory. It also fosters a deeper understanding of proportions, shading, and form and the ability to articulate textures and light/shadow.
In this 3-hour Landscape Sketching class, students will have the opportunity for an interactive experience with drawing techniques, guided practice, and 1 hour of independent drawing. This outline below emphasizes an integrative teaching method with a balance of support and exploration.
I. Introduction & Overview
II. Core Concepts of Landscape Sketching
IV. 1 Hour: Independent Drawing Time
V. Group Critique & Final Tips
Materials Needed:
Learning Goals:
Class Dynamic:
Instructor: Colleen Harrigan
This course accommodates both beginners and more advanced participants. The goal is to guide students through basic techniques, provide hands-on practice, and help them develop their skills. The class will incorporate instruction, demonstration, and time for students to practice.
Total Duration: 3 hours
Drawing from observation offers numerous benefits, including improved technical skills, enhanced attention to detail, critical thinking, and visual memory. It also fosters a deeper understanding of proportions, shading, and form and the ability to articulate textures and light/shadow.
In this 3-hour Landscape Sketching class, students will have the opportunity for an interactive experience with drawing techniques, guided practice, and 1 hour of independent drawing. This outline below emphasizes an integrative teaching method with a balance of support and exploration.
I. Introduction & Overview
- Welcome & Materials Overview
- A brief introduction to landscape sketching and the goals of the class
- Quick rundown of materials: paper, pencils, erasers, and optional tools (charcoal, blending stumps)
- A brief introduction to landscape sketching and the goals of the class
- Why Sketch Landscapes?
- Discuss the value of landscape sketching in developing observational skills, understanding nature, and capturing emotion.
- Show examples of simple and detailed landscapes to inspire students.
- Discuss the value of landscape sketching in developing observational skills, understanding nature, and capturing emotion.
- Overview of the Class Structure (
- Outline the plan for the session: short demonstrations, then 1 hour for students to draw independently, followed by group critique and final tips.
- Outline the plan for the session: short demonstrations, then 1 hour for students to draw independently, followed by group critique and final tips.
II. Core Concepts of Landscape Sketching
- Breaking Down the Landscape (
- Basic Elements of Landscapes: Identify key components like trees, hills, water, and skies.
- Understanding Composition: Discuss the rule of thirds, focal points, and balancing foreground, midground, and background.
- Basic Elements of Landscapes: Identify key components like trees, hills, water, and skies.
- Quick Demo: Basic Landscape Sketch
- Demonstrate how to quickly sketch a basic landscape (e.g., a river flowing through hills with trees on one side).
- Emphasize getting the shapes and proportions right first before adding details.
- Demonstrate how to quickly sketch a basic landscape (e.g., a river flowing through hills with trees on one side).
- Techniques for Shading and Texture
- Shading Basics: Show how to indicate light and shadow in a landscape.
- Texture Techniques: How to sketch trees, rocks, and water using different marks (hatching, stippling, soft shading).
- Shading Basics: Show how to indicate light and shadow in a landscape.
- Guided Drawing: Simple Scene
- Students follow along as you guide them through sketching a simple landscape scene.
- Start with large shapes (horizon line, big objects like hills and trees) and then add smaller details (branches, water texture, etc.).
- Emphasize a step-by-step process: start big, then refine.
- Students follow along as you guide them through sketching a simple landscape scene.
- Instructor Walkthrough: As students sketch, you walk around offering individualized guidance. Give tips on improving proportions, texture, and depth.
IV. 1 Hour: Independent Drawing Time
- Drawing Challenge
- Select a landscape scene to draw independently. This could be a real landscape outside (if feasible) or a reference photo you’ve brought with you (or a combination of both). Some ideas include:
- A park with trees and a pond
- A beach scene with dunes and sky
- A mountain range with foreground foliage
- A park with trees and a pond
- Encourage students to use the techniques learned in the earlier sections: focus on creating depth, shading, and texture. Remind them to be mindful of composition and perspective.
- Select a landscape scene to draw independently. This could be a real landscape outside (if feasible) or a reference photo you’ve brought with you (or a combination of both). Some ideas include:
- Instructor’s Role:
- While students work, move around and provide feedback on technique, composition, and progress.
- Answer any questions and give individual tips as needed.
- While students work, move around and provide feedback on technique, composition, and progress.
V. Group Critique & Final Tips
- Sharing Work
- Invite students to share their sketches with the group (Discuss what worked well in each sketch and areas that can be improved).
- Provide constructive feedback and praise for effort.
- Invite students to share their sketches with the group (Discuss what worked well in each sketch and areas that can be improved).
- Final Demonstration & Refinement Tips
- Show how to refine a sketch further by adding final details (like darkening shadows, adding highlights, or refining texture).
- Discuss the importance of finishing touches and what makes a landscape sketch feel complete.
- Show how to refine a sketch further by adding final details (like darkening shadows, adding highlights, or refining texture).
- Q&A and Final Thoughts
- Open up the floor for any remaining questions.
- Provide tips for continuing landscape sketching practice on their own.
- Open up the floor for any remaining questions.
Materials Needed:
- Sketchbook or drawing paper and a board
- Graphite pencils (HB, 2B, 4B, 6B)
- Erasers (kneaded and regular)
- Charcoal or blending stumps
- Ruler (for perspective work, optional)
- Reference images of landscapes (or real landscape views, if outdoors)
Learning Goals:
- Understand how to break down a landscape into basic shapes and elements.
- Learn techniques for creating texture, depth, and light/shadow in a landscape.
- Gain confidence in sketching landscapes independently while developing a personal approach to the subject matter.
Class Dynamic:
- A focus on engagement and independent practice, with ample instructor support and personalized feedback.
- The one-hour independent drawing time is key for students to consolidate what they've learned, and the final critique session helps reinforce good practices and allows for improvement.
