Landscapes – distance and value composition practice

[opal shale]

Welcome to study groups
Focus on building strong composition with simple shapes using only 4 values!!

for digital artists :
I encourage you to use lasso tool or hard brush

for traditional artists :
use pencil, copy your 4 values on separate paper and keep them the same for each landscape.
Lightest value will be your paper and then add 3 darker ones, make sure that they are visibly different from each other
(paper – lightest, light grey, grey and dark grey/black)

no details and no blending, simple shapes only

We are focusing purely on composition of big shapes and value usage!

Remember that objects closer to the camera are getting darker and objects that are distant are getting lighter
(exception with dark background included)

💪 Goal : use 4 values only and apply them on 6 different landscapes

Draw your own landscape, don't reference landscape art or images 1:1, loose referencing is okay.
If you do loosely reference a background, post it with your art so we can compare

This practice is inspired by current #🎨・events
use this study to build your landscape knowledge and don’t be afraid to participate!

challenge ends : <t:1745697600:f>

I am here to help, feel free to ping me anytime

Have fun!

I am including optional template too for anyone who wants to use it

[lilac aspen]

Is it alr that I can talk here or nah?

[opal shale]

feel free to ask questions here!:D

[lilac aspen]

I love the first one

Got any tips for drawing poses with perspective?

[opal shale]

thank you very much ❤️

[mental stream]

Wait... Multiple study groups a week?

[violet hare]

TWO study groups this week? what a bountiful week

[opal shale]

since it's not study group related I would recommend u to make post here #978708583090892830 or ask in #🎨・art-chat ! feel free to ping me there as well so I can answer

[lilac aspen]

Oh I see

I'll try to make a background with Ur tip at the first one since I'm tryna make a ruined background place

[opal shale]

I want to keep u busy u know

[elder maple]

WHAT? 2 PIECES????

Oh lord

[opal shale]

technically 6 for this one

[elder maple]

😭

[heavy comet]

hello, i'm new in this server and i'm not used to key words such as;
-images 1:1
-loose referencing
thank you :D

[opal shale]

hello!
1:1 means copy the reference picture - can't be used in this practice (we are focusing on 1:1 practice here for example : #1363237331129335899 message )
loose referencing means u can use references but you can't completely copy them - use them only to give yourself some ideas for compositions, colors, general topics:)

[upper seal]

Hmm this one sure is a challenge

[lilac aspen]

Is this fine?

Or do I have to colour them?

[opal shale]

it is fine!! u can use template that is under the post or make your own to make 6 different ones:3
no coloring, only the 4 grey values

[lilac aspen]

Oh

[elder maple]

Is it just me or did koi sneak her cat form into the first part

[opal shale]

was not my intention!!😆

[elder maple]

So custom environment is acceptable?

[lilac aspen]

Ight time to remake

[elder maple]

Like any 6 custom environment?

Or 1:1 ?

[opal shale]

I really encourage u to read the whole post before u start

[elder maple]

Ohhh okay mb

I lost glasses so can't read properly

[heavy comet]

you'll have to pin this too lol

[heavy comet]

thank you

[opal shale]

good idea lmao

[heavy comet]

what if i want to take previous study groups? where do i submit

[opal shale]

you can work on them but you won't be able to post them into original posts anymore. In that case post them with the current study:) - while u post week 3 results u can attach week 1 with it for example!

[lilac aspen]

Can I try diff angles? @opal shale

[opal shale]

draw whatever landscape in whatever angle u want!! just use 4 values only✨

[lilac aspen]

Do I have to draw 4? Or just 1

[opal shale]

6 landscapes with 4 values only, just like it is shown on my example (each landscape has only 4 shades - values). read the whole post before u start:D

[lilac aspen]

Ok

[naive sand]

[opal shale]

[marble spire]

The cat 😭

[elder maple]

🫡

[foggy hamlet]

does sketching before drawing for values composition diminishes the importance of the study of value composition?

[opal shale]

u can definitely sketch before! I like drawing without sketch but if u feel like it would be better to sketch it first, go for it!! but don't forget to use big shapes and no details at all

[upper seal]

This is turning out to be quite hard😔 any tips for composition ideas?

[opal shale]

nooo it's lots of fun and u can do tons of them in a few mins!!! I usually place my values together and move them around but u can also put each value on separate layer and move them around like that! For composition tips there are some traditional ones like golden ration, rule of third and stuff BUT u can play with your composition using letters!! Any letter will work so get creative🫶 ✨
here are some composition examples by Mitch Leeuwe

for example from my work - the top left is U composition or middle right is almost W composition!!

[upper seal]

I see! Ill try it out ty

[violet hare]

is something like this also allowed? xd

@opal shale

[opal shale]

It is!! Now do 5 more

[violet hare]

aye aye captain

[opal shale]

Nah u are good with the details but don't add more

[violet hare]

alright :)

yeah i was thinking about adding a chandelier but it was too much xd

[opal shale]

Haha yeah it is tempting to add more xD

[upper seal]

@opal shale i did 3 with a black bg and 3 with a white bg

[opal shale]

Yeeeeees that is what I wanna see here

Amazing!!

[upper seal]

Yippee! Critique?

[violet hare]

goddamn

insane

[opal shale]

pic 1 I would suggest checking the tangents - when objects from foreground and middle/background are too close together the 3d feel is not quite there, I would overlap those objects more or put them far from each other to not clash! it is small adjustments but do a lot for a 3d feel
also I've adjusted bottom left since distance wise I think white bg doesn't work for it that well.
overall G R E A T✨ 💖

[round tangle]

I'm going to cry, I was too lazy to get the pumpkin done, and now there's two.
I'm also incredibly busy this week.

[opal shale]

it's ok there will be more in the future

[upper seal]

Tysm! I was thinking the same thing bout the last one but i was tryna keep the bg white for sm reason 100% agree tho

[plush gate]

If you guys are struggling with compositions. Try looking up some movies screenshots (preferably establishing shots to fit this study) and turn them into this simple values. That way you're only focusing on one thing at a time.

[cinder kernel]

any thoughts? :´)

@opal shale

[zealous gate]

Just found out that I'm not that imaginative with landscapes... I need to touch more grass

[opal shale]

that's actually great thing to find out, u can only improve from that point💯

[opal shale]

for the middle one I would add lighter value to create some more depth. overall great job🫡 💯 ✨

[cinder kernel]

I can see that now. Thanks

[dusty lynx]

Drow my own landscape yes? Nice

[opal shale]

Yup! 6, with only 4 values
Feel free to use template in pinned messages

[astral tartan]

yooo this is hype

[heavy comet]

i was able to attempt one morning before school, i'll continue after class :,,

tbh i have a lot to fix but i'm so late rn :,(

[heavy comet]

@opal shale i think i could use
-bigger and simpler shapes that could be recognized from far, vvery big compared to what i have
-Use darkest value for the boat since i want it to appear closer to the camera or include the boat in the foreground
-use better shape communication in the background (clouds)

[opal shale]

amazing points!!
I agree with them all but your shape communication is nice.
the boat could benefit from some black parts but I wouldn't use darkest value for whole boat. You did a great job with this one 💯

[heavy comet]

so i could use darkest value for the bottom of the boat and lighter with the cloth and tops? i don't get how i can use two value on one object :/ hmmmm

[heavy comet]

thank you for the big help

[opal shale]

yep exactly!I think something like this could work but ofc in more detailed value study you would use more values than 4:D

[upper seal]

Omg thats adorableeee

[heavy comet]

ohhh yeahh, this does change the mood and message, i didn't think of values this way, didn't wanna complex details but YEAH, Art. thankss a lot i'm learning a lot <3

[unique coyote]

This was such a struggle but also really fun. I really have to work on landscapes more😭 (Also I’d love some feedback)

[astral tartan]

hiiii! These are great!
I think for the 3rd one(middle left), you should try to add some more height variety to the rocks! the ones further away are kinda in similar height to the ones closer to the viewer. if you push it more you can create more depth

My favs might be the 1st or 2nd, glowy mushrooms and the angle with the ship is very cool, good work!

[unique coyote]

Tysm! Yeah, I’ll definitely go back and add more height variation to the rocks

[tawdry raft]

Yall are too good for this

[dusty lynx]

Can i make 6 rough sketch with value sticking out? Cause i am busy with things

[opal shale]

What does value sticking out mean?:D

[dusty lynx]

Later i show you 🙂

[green granite]

am i doing this right?

or is the tree doing too much?

i just thought i wanted to bring the white like somewhere else as well

[opal shale]

yup!💯 but I think u can use even less detail! also I would be careful with this shape since it should be in lighter value than your closest shapes!

[nocturne eagle]

To much detail and too much smudging with it, the Dawing but I liked it to study landscapes challenge 🦐

[smoky kelp]

ive used only lasso tool and little to no reference to challenge myself, idk if it was a good choice or not
(i forgot the record the 5th one on the timelapse thats why its not there)

[cinder kernel]

i love this to unreasonable amount

[smoky kelp]

thx, that one took the most time i believe

[cinder kernel]

dude on the left is way too chill about that tho
😂

[smoky kelp]

i thought abt it like shocked or sth

like life going infront of his eyes type of shock

[cinder kernel]

MORE ENERGY,

😄

[plush gate]

you guys are doing so great with these! Something that I've seen in most of the piece is that it's overly complicated and hard to read. You don't need to be adding details at all in this stage. The point of this study is to use simple values to show depth. Once you have that figured it out, then you can start adding secondary forms onto it.

[dusty lynx]

Alright rough works at least, better than no work