Create your own dreamy landscape!

Today you’re going to create a technicolor mixed media landscape based on something that inspires you. It could be something you saw on recent travels, like Claudia, or a depiction of your dream vacation, your childhood home—whatever!

Find a reference photo for your building, and then add in a landscape that’s totally different from reality, pulling from your imagination or finding inspiration from your surroundings or another reference photo of somewhere you find beautiful.

You’ll want to start by loosely sketching out your design so you can get the layout just right. Then, lay down the base layer of color by filling in the big shapes and forms with paint. Finally, go crazy with you mixed media materials to add texture, detail, color, and fun!

When you’re done, share your work in the project gallery so we can all imagine ourselves in your dreamy landscape.

Materials

Again, you can use whatever materials you have on hand or like to use, but here’s what Claudia uses in the class:

Paper — Preferably mixed media or watercolor, Claudia likes 180-300 gsm hot pressed paper (smooth surface)

Brushes — Having a mix of sizes for different details is best, Claudia is using a #10, #6, and #4

Paint — You’ll want some paint to get down a smooth, bold base layer of color. Claudia is using gouache (Schmincke Horadam, Schmincke Akademie, and Holbein), but you could use watercolor or acrylic if that’s your preferred medium!

Mixed media — Again, feel free to use whatever materials you like or want to play with for adding detail and texture. Claudia is using Sennelier oil pastels, Caran d'Ache Neocolor crayons, Posca paint markers, and colored pencils.

Acrylic sealer (optional) — Especially if you use oil pastel or another easily-smudgeable medium, it can be nice to seal your work when you’re done. You can buy an acrylic sealer to do this, or just use a few layers of hairspray.

Resources

Connect with Claudia on Instagram and on her website.
Check out Claudia’s other classes on her Skillshare profile.

Explore More Classes on Skillshare

Mixed Media Illustration: Create a Self-Portrait with Watercolor, Gouache & More — Maria-Ines Gul
Sketchbook Illustration: Draw a Personal, Colorful Travel Map — Mike Lowery
Colorful Creatures in Gouache & Mixed Media: Explore Your Creativity — Marie-Noëlle Wurm

Wendy Hawkes

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