Foundations of Landscape Painting
Landscape painting is about more than replicating a scene; it’s about translating an emotion, a feeling and/or experience of place into colour, form, and texture onto your surface. Over four weeks, join artist Martha Johnson as she guides you through the fundamentals of landscape painting in a welcoming virtual studio. Drawing on her deep connection to the Canadian landscape and decades of teaching experience, this course will help you build a strong foundation in composition, colour mixing, and mark-making, whether you’re working in acrylics, gouache or mixed media painting.
You’ll explore how to break down complex scenes into manageable shapes, use value and perspective to create depth, and experiment with techniques that bring surfaces like water, rock, and foliage to life. Sessions will encourage you to find your own vision-using personal or found imagery as a starting point-and to develop a painting that holds memory, atmosphere, and a sense of place. Through live demonstrations, group discussion, and supportive feedback, you’ll gain both the technical skills and the confidence to express your unique perspective on the landscape.
- Understand and apply the principles of composition, value, and colour mixing in landscape painting.
- Use a variety of painting techniques (brushwork, palette knife, mixed media) to capture different natural surfaces and effects.
- Develop observational skills to break down complex landscapes into simple shapes and layers.
- Create a sense of depth and atmosphere using perspective and contrast.
- Experiment with personal imagery to develop an individual approach and style.
- Complete at least one finished landscape painting that reflects your own experience and vision.
- Paints: This is open to watercolour, gouache, acrylic. Paint pigments should include, but are not limited to: White, Black, Ultramarine Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Hansa Yellow, Yellow Ochre.
- 8 ounce white Gesso
- Small matte medium
- 1-2 canvases (no smaller than 14x18”) - for those working with acrylic, oil, gouache
- Watercolour / mixed media paper pad (no smaller than 12x16”)
- Charcoal pencils and willow sticks
- Sketchbook - no smaller than 9x12”
- Paint brushes - recommended are five acrylic bristle brushes including one 1” Bright style brush, two medium brushes, one small and one Rigor style brush for detail
- Few sheets of bond printer paper
- Scissors
- Masking tape
- Colouring pencils
- Pastels
- Artist pen / fine tip black marker
- Ruler
- Rags
- Nitrile gloves
- Water container
- Recycled papers
- Acid free glue / PVA
- Printed photographic references for landscapes of choice
- Student should have their work on an easel or in a stable vertical position during session time for visibility

Details
Fee: $275 & HST
Tuesdays August 5, 12, 19, 26 | 1 - 3:30pm
Online/Virtual Class
Led by: