Unclear about how to compose a landscape painting?
Intimidated by the idea of editing and selecting from a landscape in nature? Would you like a process for testing out your compositional ideas before you start to paint?
Unclear about the important role of value in composition?
Do you want to understand the importance of variety and unity?
Do you want to understand the importance of movement and rhythm in your landscape compositions?
Welcome and Reading Assignment
FREE PREVIEWMaterials and Reading List
FREE PREVIEWCarlson's Theory of Angles
FREE PREVIEWWorking Methods for Class
Words of Wisdom from Edgar Payne
Composition – Methodology
Why Draw
The Three Uses of Value
Composition Roadmap
FREE PREVIEWWhat’s A Thumb?
Thumb Technique
Thumbnails – The First Step in Learning to Compose
Composing Thumbs from Multiple References
Format
Horizon
FREE PREVIEWShape
Some Basic Design Concepts
Drawing Tips
How to BUG
How To Hold Your Pencil
How to Sharpen a Pencil
Zoom Class #1
Assignment #1 - Part 1
Assignment #1 - Part 2
Some Examples
Composition – The Idea
Wyeth Wisdom
Thinking in Shapes
More on Shape
Movement and Focal Point
More on Movement
Value, Color and Movement
Getting In
Getting In - Part 2
Variety – Intervals and Shapes
Speed of the Line and Stoppers
Thou Shalt Not …
Terrible Tangents
Notan and Four Value Studies
Thumbs and Marker Studies
Deconstructing Carlson
Assignment #2 – Part 1
Assignment #2 – Part 2
Assignment #2 - Part 3
Thumbs – Visual Thinking
More on Visual Thinking
Balance by Opposition of Spots
Another Example
Another Opposition of Spots or Counterpoint Example
A Lesson From Corot on Getting In and Out
Variety – Edges
Some Practical Advice
Composition Class #2
Deborah Paris is an American landscape painter, author, and teacher. She is the founder of The Landscape Atelier, her teaching studio, and the author of Painting the Woods: Nature, Memory and Metaphor (Texas A&M University Press 2020). Based on a foundation of intense and close observation, drawing, memory, and imagination, her work explores an intuitive connection to and her experience of nature.
Deborah’s work is represented by galleries throughout the US. She has been featured in Art of the West, American Painting Video Magazine, American Artist, Southwest Art, The Pastel Journal and Professional Artist Magazine. Her work has been shown at the Laguna Art Museum, the Albuquerque Museum of Art, the Panhandle-Plains Museum, the Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, The National Wildlife Museum, and the Gilcrease Museum.
When she isn’t painting or teaching, Deborah is an avid walker, birder, naturalist, reader, and writer. She lives and works in northeast Texas.
Visit Deborah at her website – https://www.deborahparis.com
For more about Deborah’s teaching philosophy and online learning, you can listen to this podcast.
“When covid hit, I decided to take on-line classes and workshops to elevate my painting skills. I wanted to take a deep dive to fill in the skills I was missing. I have signed up for every class Deborah offers. I am thrilled with what I am learning and how it is advancing my painting skills.”
Susan Powers
“My landscape art has improved so much because of the Landscape Atelier with Deborah Paris. Her classes simplify the complex nature of landscape art. Deborah’s classes helped me breakdown the landscape so I could focus and improve on one part at a time. Deborah’s classes will help you find your visual voice in landscape art.”
Kathy Wood
“After finishing a year of classes at the Landscape Atelier, I can honestly say that Deborah is not only a top-notch artist but also a gifted teacher. She brings her experience as an artist to teaching with a generosity of spirit that make her classes both instructive and fun. The interactive online setting with not just Deborah but also the fellow artists who participate in her classes adds to the overall experience.”
Susanne Jantsch
“Deborah is a world-class teacher. She is thorough, thoughtful, kind, and very skilled. This atelier is the place where week by week you build on your skills and understanding with lesson plans, exercises, video demonstrations and zoom meetings. You have a sense of community with the other students and her platform allows you to see other people’s work for her appraisal and for yours. She replies quickly, kindly, thoroughly.”
Maggie Parkinson
“The Landscape Atelier offers a comprehensive set of courses for developing skills as a landscape artist. Deborah Paris is an excellent instructor who has put together a package of course materials that provides guidance and inspiration. I am on my seventh course, and the way the lessons from each course connect and build on each other has been very powerful in underscoring key concepts.”
Susan J.
“Deborah Paris’ deep appreciation for the fundamentals of her craft, her intimate approach to the natural world, and her enthusiasm for teaching the traditions of landscape painting is what makes the Landscape Atelier such a special place. It is a profound place for artistic development.”
Rob Wellings
You may enroll in an On Demand course at any time.
Yes, you will retain access to the course materials and videos after the course ends for as long as the site is up.
No. On Demand classes contain all of the same written and video content as the Full Access classes, but there is no course community or instructor feedback.
Please see our cancellation policy on the “About Our Courses” page.
The courses on drawing, values, and composition would be appropriate for an artist working in any medium. Other classes involve techniques in oil painting, and all demonstrations are in oil.
The courses in drawing, color mixing, composition, and values would be appropriate for beginners. The other courses require some basic understanding of oil paint and how to apply it. They would be best for those with at least a year or two of experience working in oil. Our Creative Development courses are best for artists with at least two years of experience working in oil.
The materials list for each class is available as a free lesson. Click on “Free Preview” above to access that lesson.
Absolutely! You can upgrade for just $130. Contact us at [email protected] for a one-time discount coupon which you can apply to the purchase of the Full Access version of your On Demand course. Let us know which course you want to upgrade in your email, please!