The Art of Landscape Painting 

We are here in Colorado and I am just discovering you and your tutorials. They are very nice. This one in particular has just the mentoring advice I myself need to possibly advance a step or two. I’d been working from others photos for a long while, and my skill level never progressed. I quit trying for months. Quite sad! Then last weekend my family and I visited a gorgeous, old, rural town called Westcliffe, CO surrounded by Sangre De Cristo mountains in the background. The setting so warmed my heart. I came home with my zeal renewed and several of my own photos from which I was able to paint three town/landscape scenes with excitement and love. The lessons you taught here about being inspired and “getting out there!” are spot on. Thank you for encouraging us viewers in this way!

I got into watercolors just to be able to paint landscapes from all my travels. I have been painting for nearly 16 years and have painted a handful of landscapes. This is finally my year to really delve into landscapes. I think after watching many of your landscapes videos and listening to you talk and explain, I have finally got the why I want to paint landscapes and with your tutorials I will succeed. Thank you so much!

Thank you once again Oliver. You are always humble and very generous with the information you share. I find myself watching your videos time and again. Something different always seems to be relevant. Wish I’d found these videos many years ago but (hopefully) never too late.

I am so happy to have found your channel. I was in the “whirlpool of confusion.” and your clear and wonderful advise and tips and drills are so very helpful.Your channel is a very joyful rabbit hole that I have gone down. As you are such a wonderful artist and a really great teacher. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and humor with all.

I have just discovered your channel. Your instruction is so amazingly useful for me as I try to develop my own watercolor style. Thank you so much for what you are doing here.

I realize that you are talking to your whole community, however, it feels like a visit with you and your wisdom being shared just with me. I just wanted to thank you for your way of communicating. I can only imagine what a blessing you are to your family. Please thank them, for me, for how they support your sharing and setting aside the time to share your experience with me - all of us! I really appreciate you and have already shared your tutorials and channel with others. Deepest appreciation!! 💗

Such invaluable philosophy. I rarely rate these videos, but this is very high-quality stuff, and I will carry it with me. There is a depth to this kind of vision that we all should be working towards achieving. Glad I watched it. Thanks so much for your imput. I'll be thinking about this.

I’ve been what people used to call a ‘shut in.” On my path back to the world of humans I am actually using Plein air painting as a tool - my art has long been my one way of communicating and I find it has a way of bridging that nervous awkward gap I inevitably create. I am getting an electric trike in the spring, packing my painting kit and lunch, and heading out. I live in the finger lakes region in NY state and there is beauty everywhere. Thank you for your help in my journey.

I can see why you are inspired to paint your lovely local landscape! Beautiful work!!

Such great advice! I have been struggling with MY style for years. Time to start painting my style rather than trying to paint my teacher’s style. Thanks for the inspiration. 😊

When I was at art school I had a tutor who just got us to paint freely at first. Then he took us all to London galleries and asked us to pick paintings that we'd like to copy, and after that he had a good idea of what roads to send us up. Watching our natural painting styles and identifying the type of work that attracted us was the key. After that I was told to study Hopper' Wyeth, De Chirico and a few others due to a sort of eerie quality in my work and taste. I wouldn't have known this before he pointed it out. The conclusion of this is it's probably best not to try and invent a style because if you look out for it and paint you're natural style will probably find you.

Thanks for this Oliver! I really enjoy all your videos. One thing that I really like is that it never feels like you are trying to sell me something. Your opinions are so selfless, I love it! I'm happy I found you and your work

For me, my absolute favorite art is often a piece where the artist saw the beauty in the everyday world around them. Or they find beauty in what others would never see as beautiful, or they create beauty out of an otherwise dreary, boring or unappealing thing. My non artist friends don't see the colors I see, or the beauty in the way the light plays across a path or any of those simply beautiful things that I myself and other artists see. Finding the beauty, seeing it is in my opinion what an artist is, and I can find it everywhere, so long as I pause long enough to notice it.

Thank you for your invaluable advice! This video has probably been the most valuable and inspiring I've viewed so far as a beginning landscape painter.

Thank you Oliver for such an inspiring view of plein-air, I appreciate all the time you have so generously given to so many of us aspiring artists.

This is perhaps the most inspiring video I have seen in a long time! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience and being so in tune with your audience

This is one of the best videos I have ever watched on RU-vid. Am so glad I stumbled upon your channel. Thank you so much

Feeling inspired, moved and all while having a laugh. I love how you make the landscape even more beautiful than captured in the video despite some scenes being amazing - must be expression of your love. Your artwork really does transport one to the UK. Thank you for sharing in such a personal and humble way.

Thanks for another great video. I love your honest, open and holistic approach in all you share I.e not just techniques but the magic that sits behind your painting. Truly motivating.

You might be the most helpfull watercolour teacher i found on youtube in 7 years of searching, thank you

I had an “ah-ha” moment when I saw you soften the hard edge of a treetop with a bit of clean water; it gave the impression of sunlight upon the leaves. I’m gonna try that. You always give such good and useful advice. Thank you.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. It feels like we've got a glimpse into how the magic happens. 🙂 I have only recently started sketching/painting outdoors and indeed it's a bit less comfortable than painting at home at my desk. Mosquitoes I hate especially. 😂 But you are right, because the experience of painting in the nature is worth it. (My painting equipment is quite practical: a small sketchbook, pencil, eraser, Daler Rowney Aquafine 12 watercolor travel palette and one extra waterbrush. 😊)

I live in Sussex so know the places you paint only to well and loving your instruction it's bringing life to my own painting. Thank you

Thank you once again for your points as food for thought. I do love landscape and nature and yes, remove the obstacles and get out there.

What a treat this was! Thank you for your insights! I’ve always said that your paintings are like what memories would look like if one could see one tangibly. Good to know that your philosophy on painting isn’t far off from my idealistic dreams of what I hope to achieve. Thanks for the continued inspiration!

This was SO encouraging! I've been trying this and that in art for a very long time and decided eighteen months ago to just settle and paint what I love. And I love where we live. Been out there whenever I can even for an hour or two and trying it. In our long winter been walking and memorizing and quickly back in the studio just putting down what I felt and working with what paints and colours I've got. So this was helpful that I'm on the right track. Thanks for teaching to just keep with it and let it evolve on its own - no hurry. W

Your videos are like little diamonds for me ! You make me think I am on the good way to progress, thank you so much Oliver :)

Inspiring! This is the only RU-vid channel that speaks of the spirit of the painter and the mental relationship of the artist with the scenery. It does something to him or her and each artiest expresses this on his canvas or paper. This may sound normal but most art RU-vid art tutorials do not seem to mention it. But you do. And this encourages my feeble and often unsuccessful attempts at drawing and painting. Thank you ever so much for inspiring me. I am 64 and am starting out only now. It is people like you that make firm my hesitant steps.

Like some of the other commenters, I just came across your channel and it has helped me a great deal. I felt like I had to paint everything if I was to be an artist but in all honesty I don't feel as inspired by painting flowers or people. I live for painting trees, skies and castles and would like to paint landscapes. After messing around on the edges of watercolour for the last few years I think I can finally paint what I want to.

Dear Oliver ....... you are sooo right !!!! Thank you very much for this great statement ..... I've been dealing with other artists and techniques for so long that I almost lost my own painting. It is so much nicer to come to terms with yourself and suddenly not feel any pressure at all to have to paint one way or another. Your tips made me aware again how important that is! I'm curious and look forward to the next video ...... and ..... today I already sketched outside .... :-)

Thanks Oliver .. this was an eye opening video for me. I live in Arizona and have endless possibilities for incredible landscape subjects. I need to get hiking again and get inspired by the opportunities around me.

That is such a helpful video around developing your own style, many thanks.

Thank you thank you thank you! I needed this. I have been painting 3 years and feel confused by various tutorials on technique. But I LOVE sketching outdoors. Now I will set up my 2nd pack with stool, etc. And worry less about how.

Thank you Oliver for all the time you have taken to give us what we should already know and that is, get the heck out there and look at the darned tree “. I live in a 40 acre, oak filled property. I have many subjects to paint so got to go!!.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Oliver … this lesson was particularly thought provoking in all the right ways. By the way, I’d love to live in your paintings too … they’re so beautiful and peaceful. Thanks again from a grateful Aussie 🦘

Thank you for this video Oliver. It has given me a lot to think about. I have always felt that my paintings come out looking rather unauthentic when I paint from a photo found online, because I don't feel for it, as pretty as the photo was. What you said has reaffirmed my feelings about painting what I know and where I have been. I'm still in the process of finding my style and I hope to get there one day with enough practice.

This is exactly how I have lost my way. 40 odd years of being lost 😔 This has inspired me to just be myself now and paint how I was meant to paint! Thank you so much for this Oliver! ❤️

Well, this is another gem for my treasure box. Thank you!

Thank you so much for the advice and encouragement Oliver.

For certain I felt as though I were having a glass of smoky dry red wine while sitting with a confidant giving me the best advice I need to move forward. Thank You !

Thank you for your videos and the wonderful glimpses of your work. I have no pretensions as an artist, but I do get ridiculously excited when I paint, to the point that when I’m outside I see the landscape itself as art and am filled with joy. When I paint my ‘eye’ seems to literally change and although I cant really translate that onto paper, I mix colours in my mind and feel so inspired!

Beautiful to stumble on your page, trying to develop and build my style whilst watching others. Thank you 🇨🇦 👩‍🎨

Absolutely inspiring!

Very good insight into discovering individual style.... Thanks, love the clean, restful effects in your painting

very well explained Oliver, too many of us fall into the trap of painting in styles that don't suit us. I fall into that trap very often. Ignore the two thumbs down comments, can't please everyone.

Your way with words is just as magnificent as your way with the brush, Oliver. Thank you so much for sharing your inner world with the outer world.

Thank you for this video! Spoke volumes. Lovely editing too. And yes please to trees! I love trees, they always make me feel centred. My one aim in my beginning watercolour journey is to be able to capture them how I see them.

Thanks a lot for share your knowledge, not only about watercolor painting but also about to life being ourselves. So nice... Amazing. Thanks Oliver!

Compliments to your art. Beautiful english landscapes and paintingS

Oliver, thank you so much for this inspiring video!! 🙏🏻 I would love to see a video about your work throughout the years. I’m very curious to see early work and your view on it.

I heard in your presentation what I wanted to hear. It was necessary for me, thank you. I admire your refined works.

for some reason, I found you tonight after having a frustrating day painting en plein air...not all days go well...but I will keep at it! Also, on photos, I did not hear a distinction from you for a photo that I take of a scene I like vs. using someone else's photo. I never use the latter... but find my photos can rekindle my emotion at the time it was taken....useful in the studio.

Oliver, I much admire your work. As a one-time student of Ansel Adams, I understand exactly what you say about light, atmosphere, values, space, etc. Prepare to be impressed with the work of Eva Bartel. Western Canada watercolour landscaper artist. I aspire to paint the landscape where I live in a way as well seen as you see the landscape of south England, with which I am familiar, and Western Canada as Eva sees it (also familiar). Two different approaches, both technically excellent, each able to put their impressions to paper emphatically. Enjoy. I am grateful for both your technical advice, but particularly for your insights into 'the art'.

I think I need to visit England now… thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge and insights.

Your paintings are really beautiful! I can imagine many people would love to learn your style even though you teach how good it is for each of us to find our style.

Thank you Oliver. I just got the right push. .

Hi Oliver, thanks so much for this video. You've provided some really useful insight on how to approach landscape paintings. I thoroughly enjoy watching your videos as you are very generous, and down to earth as a teacher.........and your humour does not go unnoticed either 😄. I agree with the person who said they would love to live in your paintings as they are truly beautiful and serene. Thanks again, and have a lovely day.

I love your walks into nature and the manner in which you explain your painting techniques. Thank you! I live on Manitoulin Island in Canada and love to see your world in England. Take care.

Good afternoon! You have very clar watercolour! It is very nice ! Your watercolours are transparent ! !

Thank you so much for always inspiring us and sharing your amazing knowledge. Priceless!!

Thank you so much for this information and advice.

So inspiring and helpful. I'm taking all of this in ... and to heart. I've just discovered your tutorials, and I see that this one is probably 2 years ago. I'm hoping I can find the video(s?) on trees now. In any case, thank you very much for your wisdom and generosity.

I can paint reasonably well but I can’t draw. One of the most spectacular things about your paintings is your superb draughtsmanship in terms of drawing.

Thanks so much for these videos Oliver. Invaluable filling in of gaps in your overall approach to painting and capturing a landscape. I live in Waverley, Surrey, so have very similar landscapes on my doorstep. Great video.

I was raised in central Texas. Some people call it the Hill Country. Thanks for these lessons. I believe they relate perfectly to what I am doing.

Wonderful advice. Thank you for sharing your acumen. As a hobbyist watercolour painter I am great at making excuses to avoid painting outdoors. I am unsure what criticism others' might give of my work - but as you have said, I've not experienced this first hand, only what my chimp in my head is telling me is likely to happen. I must get out there and give it a try :). Thanks for your inspiration and wonderful channel.

It is only the virtuoso musician/ painter who can express what he or she feels about a piece of music/a landscape. All others are struggling to improve skills and develop technique. That said, I love your youtube tutorials and have been binge watching all day, as I'm recovering from flu.

Omg, that how I feel…I referring on that you are saying on 11:44 seconds…. How many of us… feeling the same…, just saying.So glad and happy that I found your channel. Thank you so much!

You are wonderful teacher!!!!

Your comments on Andy Evansen are spot on. My local art society had him here last year. I have his video of painting in the Cotswolds. Super.

I've just recently started learning to paint with watercolor and just found your channel. I've always been the type to focus on my love for my different interests and I didn't really know if I should continue because it was getting frustrating not being able to do certain things with my paintings yet. But you have such a way with words that I feel like I'm in love with it again and that maybe I was placing too much pressure on myself rushing to learn skills instead of studying them and letting them grow naturally. Thank you so much. I'll keep learning...

So its the Fall in Northern Michigan and I am having a feast with the colors But ....and once again my oil painting background gets in the way and what should have been a masterpiece becomes boring because I loose vibrance, freshness and transparency I enjoy and appreciate your videos which have been helpful

These are words I needed to hear today. Thanks Oliver.

Always inspiring - feeling the landscape love 😊. Thanks for such fantastic and inspirational videos!

Thanks so much, Oliver. This is a wonderfully helpful and inspiring video!

Very interesting.....I am an atmospheric watercolour landscape artist....but nowhere near as good as you. ...but I love what you have to say here about developing your own style and it has to be what you are interested in and ..... That's my passion too. Thank iou fir all your tutorials. ...I have only watched three but have saved others to watch on rainy days. You inspire me.

this makes total sense to me now. I am lucky to live in an area with wild windswept moorland areas close by, i love it deeply. all i need is to practise the techniques and tips you are explaining to capture how i see it onto paper. my achilles heel has always been 40 years as a draughtsman, and trying to draw everything in detailed pencil, and then `colour it in` as you put it ;) thanks for your patience (and eloquence). i feel i am now on the right track at last!

I've struggled with all the tutorials out there because I'm not into the whole flowers in a vase, whimsical animals, and on and on. I love the landscapes. I have amazing landscapes surrounding me, even in my own backyard. I'm near the Great Smoky Mountains. Even aside from the landscapes, there are many things there I absolutely love from the bears, to turkey, deer, birds, insects, salamanders, mushrooms, flowers, trees, etc. I discovered long ago with my photography my best photos are of the things I love. I am blessed to have thousands of my own photos with my memories of where I've been attached. What's nice here is I've got my day pack and pants with lots of pockets. I've put together a palette in a little mint tin I can carry in a pocket, grab a couple of brushes, a small pad of watercolor paper, a bottle of water, my camera and I'm good to go. I like to travel light. I love all your videos and have learned so much. I'm feeling more and more inspired as I go through from the first to this one and on until I've seen them all. Thank you for sharing so much with us. You have such a beautiful area in which you live and spend time. Such a wonderful video!

It’s so much about individual perspective. A very good lesson here. Thank you.

Thank you for this video, I will probably watch it several times when I need a reminder that I don’t need to try to emulate someone else! I think at times it can be difficult to separate the idea of copying what someone does in order to develop skill or knowledge from the idea of copying style. Regarding classes, I find they are a good way to reinforce developing skills and be pushed to try new techniques. I try to have a mindset of adding to my toolbox and that sometimes helps with the struggle of trying to emulate (but not always!). It is easy to get lured into thinking, if I can just manage to mimic everything the teacher does, my work will be as good.

Thank you Oliver and Kirsten, Just what i needed. Kind regards Keith

This is very informative! Thank you for sharing your journey & giving this insightful advice!

mi admiración por sus magníficas acuarelas y su didáctica forma de explicar. Gracias

😂 You give the best advice: paint what you love. Now I can forgive myself for not having the drive to do portraits. I have just started hiking because going to the gym bores me to tears. When I see breathtaking landscape, I try to take pictures. But my iPhone can’t capture what I see. So frustrating. I want to learn how to paint. I want to record & remember my walks through the years. I will start with the desert. Then one day, I will paint the ocean. Thank you for sharing your skills.

Bravo Oliver - great video.

Previously to being disabled I travelled much and was a photographer. I considered my pictures to represent it's subject as well as emotion, my own. So I understand that aspect of what you are saying but threw a different medium. I was also a fiber artist mostly leaning to art clothing design. Like most creative and emotional people I have an overwhelming desire to create. However, now adays, I can only create while being horizontal. In the last three years I've taught myself and relearned how to do many things with fiber but I have a creative itch I couldn't reach. I so badly missed the days of roaming around capturing moments in time that I felt a connection with. My father died 2 years ago. He was 92 and though a scientist, became an acrylic painter after a stroke. When he died I asked for all of his paints, brushes,paper. Doing research and trial and error with all his stuff I discovered water colour. I feel a connection with it and so much easier for me to clean up. My struggle has been getting what I see in my visual thinking brain into a painting I feel is me,my memory. I'm not in a position to make new outside ones. Came up with an idea, dig out my photographs and bring back those feelings and memories that I connected with. I feel this is my ticket. One big problem, I was a b&w photographer. Brick Wall. Any suggestions? Anyone?

Love this video. I was able to reflect on my journey in watercolour which so far in birds and animals. I’ve not really explored landscape except once and found it was harder then I thought. It all about the journey isn’t it. Thanks you!

Very happy to see a left handed artist. I really enjoyed your video.

Im just about to pick up my brushes again after a year or so lay off, and its a bit daunting thinking Ive got to churn out a masterpiece straight away, which isn't going to happen! But after binge watching your videos lately, Ive learned so much that I didn't realise I didn't know!!😁 I'm going to start off doing small exercises like in your 'how to paint trees' videos, and practice painting skies and giving more thought to colour mixing and how the light source affects colour temperature in the sky. Im suffering with the same dilemma you mention - do I adopt a looser, abstract style, or a more controlled approach. There's a sense that I'll never be good enough to paint with the detail that you do, so a more abstract style is appealing for that reason but, as you say, your style has got to reflect how you see the landscape, and I think thats why my style has always mimicked David Bellamy, but I find myself very drawn to your colour palette, and I see similarities in your styles. Thanks for everything you are doing for the watercolour community

Really loved this video. So what I needed. Loved that it was not technical, but emotional. I’ve hit a wall, and am not motivated these days, because I’m just not happy with what I’m producing… I realize now, that I need to connect emotionally instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I’m seeing. Thank you for communicating your connection to nature in a way that makes sense, and inspires me to find my own path. Big hugs and thanks. 🤗🧡

I really enjoyed listening to your video and I did go through a time when I worried about developing my style. The trouble is depends on how I feel as sometimes I want to paint in pastels other times oils or watercolours. Or there are other days when I just want to experiment with mixed media. Sometimes I want to paint the landscape, other days I want to paint plants or still life but does that matter? I just enjoy a challenge.

Thank you very much for answering the questions that did not give me peace of mind ... it is very valuable what you said. Thank you again!

Very helpful wealth of wisdom you shared. Many thanks..

This is great, thank you, Oliver!

I like your honesty. I do not have the time to paint. But I try to pick up technics and sometimes there is beautiful liano music too. And what you tell about landscape is quiet true.

terrific advice! Beautiful countryside! Thank you!

Great insight! Thanks a lot! 🙏🏾❤️

Amazing as always

Sublime and full of lpve !

This is true. Spring just started here in Uruguay and I'm so inspired with it. I started painting two weeks ago, now I'm painting a spring landscape inspired by the willow and the ash trees that are filling with green leaves again. While I paint, I listen to music exactly the same as the one at the beginning of the video, and I really feel that, i feel the spring with all my senses