How To See As An Artist And Not As A Camera for Landscape Painting Tutorial

A camera sees things differently than what we see with our eyes when we want to paint the landscape. The photos can be a bit flat and the dark shadows can go black. We want to interpret things in terms of shape, value, and color, instead of being so literal, like a camera. This will give our landscape paintings more life to our compositions.
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[@kliffklass]

I really believe Phil does the most useful landscape tutorials on TH-cam because he always addresses this - the interpretation/simplification of a scene. Nobody else seems to do it in such depth.

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks John!

[@Nazareth434]

Agreed! Just saying "use three values" t9 create form is somehting I haven't heard from other instructors, but is really Importent to build up a form "dark, half tone, lights." Also how to mix them ie "add a little more yellow to the greens as they turn into the sunlight ' - such simple but overlooked solutions to flat looking paintings.

[@MB-kf3yx]

Found this discussion and video on how to simplify and adjust values, temperature, and color in photos so helpful someone who primarily uses photos when painting.

[@philstarke.artist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@limitlessjewels1132]

Very, very helpful tutorial. Seeing how the photo evolves to be a great painting is a reminder that the artist is the one in charge to make it happen. Thanks Phil.

[@philstarke.artist]

Your welcome!

[@Nazareth434]

Exactly! Until recently, th3 scene was the one in charge, and I would try to copy what I could see, not thinking about making important decisions such as "what color and temp is the shadow, and how can i make it stand out from other near values and hues"- decisions like those really begin to show who is in charge, and it reflects in the painting and really is what makes an artists slicks apparent in the finished piece- it's not enough to capture a scene faithfully- the artists artistic decisions must be seen and apparent - it is what gives the paintings their real,character!

[@caroledavies5201]

Thanks so much Phil

[@philstarke.artist]

You're welcome Carol

[@DebNicolaisenArtist]

This was very helpful! Thank you for this excellent demo!

[@philstarke.artist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chokoladas]

Really useful, thank you.

[@philstarke.artist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-or5ng8sj2n]

Thank you so much for sharing all these videos, Phil!!! You are very generous... and your explanations are so clear and helpful!!!

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks Diana, glad they are helpful

[@sonyaj66]

Great reminders that we, as artists, are the ones that own and dictate/interpret the scene - not the photo. Like everything else in life, this is something that requires practice. I've been focusing on it more when doing sketches and thumbnails, and asking myself: "What do I want to emphasize in this painting or composition?".
Thanks for the discussion and inspiration, Phil 🙂.

[@philstarke.artist]

Your welcome Sonya

[@jultolentino7515]

this video is really helpful for an amateur artist,sir phil thank you so much .GOD BLESS ALHAMDULILLA

[@philstarke.artist]

Thank you Jul, glad it was helpful

[@oldepersonne]

As always, helpful and clarifying. Thank you.

[@philstarke.artist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@coindesigner7477]

Hi Phil, I love your content! I notice an autumn scene on the floor behind you. Could you please speak to the method you used to create backlighting? Thank you 🤩

[@philstarke.artist]

To suggest the light in a landscape its always a matter of finding the shadow and light patterns to suggest what the light is doing.

[@philstarke.artist]

You can also watch this video I did on backlighting th-cam.com/video/OJ0ODRz4ptk/w-d-xo.html

[@cryptzzz1188]

Thank you :)

[@philstarke.artist]

You're welcome!

[@othmanbaban6281]

Thanks!

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks

[@barrydunn3801]

Great job Phil, love your work

[@philstarke.artist]

Thanks for listening

[@mark.mahorney]

Appreciate your videos. I use painterly techniques in my wood carving art, do a lot of suggesting

[@philstarke.artist]

Looks interesting Mark, Thanks

[@sipalingpaham]

Thanks.

[@philstarke.artist]

your welcome!

[@shahzadqurashi7728]

Great 👍

[@philstarke.artist]

Thank you 👍

[@oumaK263]

Thanks, you help me to see in values and shadows. Which program do you use?

[@philstarke.artist]

Your welcome Karen, I use photoshop