Landscape painting rule of thirds

Landscape PaintingLooking at nature

Landers Peak, Bierstadt

Great example of Atmospheric Perspective.. Hudson River School

Atmospheric Perspective Objects farther away appear more bluish Objects farther away are less detailed Objects farther away have less contrast Objects farther away have softer edges

Watercolor painting “The Rapids” by Winslow Homer (American painter)

Wanderer Above a Sea of Fog

Frederick Church

Romantic painter, 19th century

Note atmospheric perspective

Where is the horizon located?

Note portrait format instead of traditional “landscape”

Can you see how the sky and far away mountains relate?

Rule of Thirds (Da Vinci’s Golden Mean)

Note that horizon is usually located about 1/3 up or down the canvas

Focal point of picture often located at intersection of roughly 1/3 up, 1/3 across

Da Vinci discovered this to be a visually pleasing composition

Composition: how picture is laid out

Grand Canal, William Turner …. Note different types of perspective used!

Bridge, Alfred SisleyExample of Impressionism (19th century)

Note rule of thirds… where is focal point?

Impressionists painted quickly, outdoors to capture a fleeting moment in time

Used dabs of color rather than smooth blending

Westminster Abbey in Fog, Claude MonetExample of Impressionism (19th century)

Note rule of thirds… do you see how Monet changed the treatment of edges?

Monet was one of the key Impressionist painters in Paris

Painted the same scene at different times of day

Wheatstacks, Claude Monet

Wheatstacks in Summer, Claude Monet

Mount Saint-VictoirePaul Cezanne

Cezanne was a post-Impressionist

Painted somewhat geometrically

Simplified shapes and exaggerated colors

Crows in Wheat FieldVincent Van Gogh

VanGogh- Post Impressionist. Used thick impasto paint, visible brush strokes, lines to add movement and emotion.