Steps to Drawing a Hillside
With its picturesque views and challenging landscapes, drawing a hillside can be an exciting artistic endeavor. Here are some helpful tips to get you started with sketching that perfect hillside.
Start with Outlines
Whether you’re tackling a still-life painting or a detailed illustration, it’s important to begin by outlining the objects that appear in it. This is especially useful for images with a lot of detail, such as a hillside. Sketch out the basic forms of the hills, trees and other features that you want to include in your drawing. Utilizing outlines can help you plan the composition of your landscape in advance.
Layer the Elements
Creating a hillside drawing can be difficult – especially if you’re looking for a realistic image. To ensure that everything is placed proportionally, go back to your initial outlines and start adding complexity to the landscape. Start by laying down your deepest layers of color, such as the sky and the hillside. Then add each additional element, one-by-one. This should help coax the hillside out of the canvas and give it dimension.
Get Creative with Color
Color is one of the most important components of any art project, and it’s especially important when creating a piece involving a hillside. To create more convincing details, consider investing in a few artist’s palette colors. Experiment with different combinations to capture the sunlight, shadows and other nuances that bring the hillside to life.
Draw in the Trees
Adding trees to your hillside drawing can be a difficult process. First, decide how you want your trees to look – such as thin or full. Then measure out spacing, using one of your initial outlines as a reference. Finally, utilize colors that reflect the surrounding terrain. This will help bring your artwork to the next level and create a sense of visual harmony.
Keep It Realistic
Finally, always strive to create realistic images with your drawings. Utilize perspective and dimensional shading to imitate the hills and valleys of a real hillside. If you’re not sure how to do this, consider using a reference photo. By striving for realism, your drawing will appear more lifelike, and can even feel as if it’s popping up from the page.
Step Inside the Lines for Detail
Zooming in on the details of the drawing can help create a sense of engagement for the viewer. When you look closer at the elements of your hillside drawing, you’ll be able to incorporate subtle elements like sun rays, flowers and insects that bring the image to life. The more detailed you make it, the more immersive the image will be.
Give Your Drawing Some Texture
Adding texture can help draw your viewer’s eye to a certain area in your landscape. In some areas, you may want to add a little bit of texture to bring attention to the hills and grass. In other areas, the texture can be built up to give the effect of sand or tree bark. Just don’t go overboard – the goal is to provide enough texture without dominating the drawing.
Shade Your Drawing in
Shading can help you bring your drawing to life by adding depth, shadows and light to your drawing. By utilizing the tools you have at your disposal – like a pencil, a paintbrush and a paper stump – you can create more lifelike shades and highlights that bring your hillside to life.
Don’t Be Afraid to Hint at Movement
The goal of your drawing should be to create a sense of movement in a still image. Utilizing sources of movement – such as wind, waves and birds – helps bring your drawing to life. Add motion lines and other elements to your drawing to create a sense of life that allows the viewer to appreciate your work of art in the moment.
Make Good Use of Details
The devil is in the details, as they say. When it comes to your hillside drawing, the little elements are what really make it stand out. Consider adding a few clouds or grasses to your drawing to really tie everything together. Selecting the right details can help turn an ordinary picture into an extraordinary one that resonates with the viewer.
Bring It All Together with Contrast
The placement, size and color of each element of your drawing can make all the difference in the end product. To get the most out of your hillside drawing, be sure to work on establishing a contrast between the trees and the background. This brings depth to the image and gives it a sense of cohesion. Focusing on the contrast between the elements can help ensure that your drawing looks polished and professional.
Have Fun with Your Hillside Drawing
Drawing a hillside doesn’t always have to be serious business – have a little fun with it! By experimenting with different elements and techniques, you can create a unique piece that is genuinely your own. Allow yourself to be creative and explore different options as you draw. At the end of the day, it is your work – so enjoy it.
