18 Easy & Beginner-friendly Landscape Drawing Ideas

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned landscape artist, these simple drawing ideas will get you started in no time. From sketching to adding depth and textures, we've covered everything you need to know to start drawing landscapes.

Additionally, we've compiled tips and tutorials for different types of landscapes and provided helpful advice on how to avoid common mistakes. So now, let's start sketching! 

What is Landscape Drawing?

An accessible and versatile artwork, landscape painting allows artists to experiment with techniques such as sketching, shading, and mixing colors.

Beginners can start with simple compositions, such as a single tree or a small pond, then experiment with different media, such as pencil, charcoal, crayons, and watercolor.

With practice, you can create stunning works that capture the essence of natural landscapes. 

Basic Techniques for Landscape Drawing

Starting with a rough sketch is the basis of a landscape drawing.

First, it helps to establish the basic composition and form of the natural landscape.

From there, various lines and strokes can add depth and texture to your illustrations.

Finally, regular practice lets you quickly improve your skills and develop your style. 

Sketching and outlining

Basic landscape drawing skills like sketching and outlining aid artists in organizing their composition before adding details. Artists can easily modify and adjust the positioning of elements in their drawings to achieve the desired effect by making preliminary sketches.

Then, using light, free lines, artists can adjust the shape or size of different pieces until they are satisfied with the overall pattern. Once the fundamental structure is in place, outlining can refine and clarify shapes and forms. 

Adding depth and texture

Basic landscape drawing skills like sketching and outlining aid artists in organizing their composition before adding details. Artists can easily modify and adjust the positioning of elements in their drawings to achieve the desired effect by making preliminary sketches.

Using light, free lines, artists can adjust the shape or size of different pieces until they are satisfied with the overall pattern. Once the fundamental structure is in place, outlining can refine and clarify shapes and forms.

Texture can also be added using different types of graphite pencils and paper.

Working with tonal values

Creating tonal values is an essential part of creating a still-life landscape scene. Give your drawing more depth and complexity using shading methods like hatching, cross-hatching, or stippling.

The first step towards mastering tonal values is recognizing the light source and establishing areas of light and shadow in your drawing. By doing this, you may give your artwork a focal point and make items appear three-dimensional.

6 Simple Landscape Drawing Tutorials for Beginners

An excellent technique for beginners to develop their drawing abilities is to start with simple landscape sketching concepts. You can focus on drawing a simple terrain outline using simple shapes and lines as a starting point.

From serene seascapes to majestic mountains, these ideas will guide you in capturing the essence of nature on paper. So grab a sketchbook and go on an artistic exploration voyage!

A river scene

Drawing a river scene can be an excellent method to master perspective and give depth to your landscapes. Many beginners need help to give the impression that the water is moving, but it can become automatic with practice.

Start by drawing the basic shapes of the river, including the banks and any nearby rocks or trees, when drawing a river scene. Then apply shading and texture to create the appearance of water movement and reflections.

A forest Scenery

Drawing a forest landscape sketch (drawing) can be an interesting and calming activity for beginners.

Start by sketching the basic forms of the trees and foliage, then use shading techniques to create depth and texture in the trees and ground cover.

Next, add finishing touches like branches and leaves to make the scene more realistic.

Finally, try seeing the trees from various angles, such as looking up at them or observing them from a distance.

A sunset/sunrise skyline

A wonderful exercise for developing depth, texture, and perspective in your landscape drawings is to sketch a sunset skyline.

Draw the basic shapes of the buildings while imagining the warm hues of the sun setting over a city skyline.

Add shading and finishing touches like windows and doors to dimension your drawing.

Experiment with different techniques, such as stippling or cross-hatching, to create texture in the sky or buildings. 

A mountain range

Creating a mountain range in your landscape paintings may be fun and gratifying. To produce a realistic effect, begin by sketching the outline of the mountains, then add details like shading and texture.

To create different textures, use a variety of pencil strokes, such as short, pointed lines for rocks and longer, softer strokes for trees or grass.

A farmland Landscape

A fantastic activity for beginners to hone their perspective drawing abilities is creating a landscape of a farm. It's crucial to capture the spirit of the lovely countryside to produce a realistic rural environment.

So, first, place basic forms in the foreground, middle ground, and backdrop after drawing the horizon line. Then, use shading techniques to give the fields and trees depth and character. 

A simple beach scene

A straightforward beach picture can be a fantastic exercise for learning how to sketch a landscape. You can experiment with various shading techniques as you sketch out the horizon line and add sand, groups of trees, and water features, such as waves and seafoam, to your picture to provide depth and perspective. 

6 Intermediate Landscape Drawing Ideas

The next stage in developing your abilities can be introducing advanced landscape sketching concepts. Try various shading methods, colors, and viewpoints to produce dynamic and aesthetically pleasing landscapes. Remember to include unique personal touches in your work to set it apart from the crowd.

A cityscape

The finished landscape drawing can be impressive but demands careful attention to perspective and detail. Please start by drawing the basic shapes of the structures and where they will be placed in the composition.

To make a realistic cityscape, include details such as windows, doorways, and architectural features. It's crucial to create depth; make the buildings in the foreground larger than those in the backdrop—the images of real cities like London for your sketch.

A Snowy Landscape

Start by outlining the scene's essential aspects, such as the trees, hills, and other objects you like to include. Then, add little elements like snowdrifts and footprints in the snow to provide depth and texture.

A Desert Landscape

Understanding the dunes, rock structures, and scant vegetation that can be found in this area is necessary to draw a desert scene. A desert's scorching, arid mood can be evoked using a few colors. Your drawing can be fascinating and realistic by including texture in the sand and rocks.

A night sky Landscape

You can begin your work by laying out the fundamental landscape components to create a stunning night sky landscape. It includes hills, trees, and structures. Next, use a to produce several tones of darkness for the night sky.

Finally, add finishing touches like shooting stars or constellations to give the painting depth and intrigue. 

6 Advanced Landscape Drawing Ideas

Once you have mastered the basic sketching techniques, you can try out these advanced landscapes to further enhance your skills and destress. Remember progress and challenges are an important part of your artistic growth.

A Waterfall

Drawing a waterfall necessitates a thorough knowledge of how water flows and moves. So first, create a rough sketch of the waterfall's basic form and structure while considering the water's flow and interactions with nearby objects like rocks and vegetation.

Then, your drawing can come to life by adding features like waterfall spray or mist. 

A Tropical Landscape

Understanding the distinctive flora and fauna in tropical areas is crucial when painting a tropical scene. Your drawing can increase depth and intrigue by using details like palm trees, exotic flora, and fauna. Use vivid colors and various textures to produce realistic details. 

A National Park

Awe-inspiring vistas are available in national parks, which are ideal for drawing. To add dimension and depth to your drawing while you're just starting, think about employing various shading techniques. Could you include the park's distinctive elements in your artwork, such as wildlife or well-known monuments?

A Valley Scene

To successfully depict a valley, pay attention to perspective and depth. To give the drawing a sense of distance and realism, include objects like trees, mountains, and water bodies.

Use shading techniques to give the landscape more depth and texture. Please consider using a limited color scheme to combine the scene's many components.

A Fantasy Foreground

You can unleash your imaginative faculties by creating a fantastical landscape. Consider a distinct environment, like a floating island or a magical forest.

Include things like fantastical creatures, strange plants, and inventive structures. Try several color schemes to produce a dreamy environment.

An Abstract Landscape

Creating abstract landscapes is a fantastic way to exercise creativity and try different methods. Start by drawing the key features of your scene, such as hills or mountains.

After that, incorporate abstract components into your drawing, like geometric forms or patterns, to give it a special touch. 

Pros & Cons of Landscape Drawing

Pros

There are several benefits to learning how to draw landscapes if you're interested in doing so. After a long day, drawing landscapes and still life can be a wonderful way to relax and decompress. 

‍Additionally, it can foster a newfound sense of connection with and awe for the natural world. You can develop a better eye for detail and observe more clearly by drawing landscapes. Another therapeutic outlet for stress alleviation and mental clarity is landscape drawing. 

Cons

There are a few things to consider if you're interested in learning how to sketch landscape scenes. First, drawing a landscape takes a lot of time and focus.

The intricacy and beauty of a natural scene can take time to convey on paper. Furthermore, having a solid grasp of perspective, lighting, and shading might be beneficial.

Bottom Line

Drawing landscapes may be a wonderful way to calm down and unwind while honing your artistic abilities. Many landscapes drawing ideas are available, so you can choose one that suits your skill level. There is something for everyone, ranging from straightforward beach views to complicated mountain ranges.

However, it's crucial to remember that landscape painting can have drawbacks, such as a time commitment and irritation when things go differently than planned. Therefore, finding the ideal balance and taking pleasure in the process is key. 

For novices, sketching landscapes can be a soothing and delightful pastime. You may make stunning and realistic landscapes by starting with simple sketches of fundamental shapes and gradually adding embellishments.

To achieve the ideal tone and finish, experiment with various mediums, such as pencils, charcoal, or pastels. Use your surroundings and nature as inspiration to help you capture the essence of the landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you draw a Landscape Pattern?

You can start by sketching the landscape's backdrop features, such as the sky or far-off mountains. Then, to provide the impression of depth and perspective, use light, free strokes. Think about the hues and textures you want, then add depth with shading and blending techniques.

How do you start a Zen tangle Landscape drawing?

You must first design the essential landscape components, such as mountains, trees, and water features, before beginning a Zen tangle Landscape drawing. Then, using pens or markers, outline and tone the completed drawing after adding Zen tangle patterns to fill the spaces between the landscape's parts.

What software should I use to make my Drawings look more realistic?

There are numerous software tools available to enhance the realism of landscape drawings. Popular software for digital editing and improvement is Adobe Photoshop. For novices, Autodesk Sketchbook and Procreate are excellent choices. Try several programs and methods to see which ones work best for you.

What are the best apps for drawing?

Procreate, Adobe Photoshop Sketch, and Autodesk Sketchbook are well-known drawing programs. However, your selected app will depend on your device and personal preferences. Various tools and features are available in many drawing apps to improve your drawing experience.