How to draw a line landscape

Welcome! This blog post features a guided tutorial of how to draw a line landscape . This activity helps artists to build skills using the element of art LINE to create a sense of dimensional SPACE. A variety of lines are used to create this composition including STRAIGHT, CURVED, THICK, AND THIN. It’s a great activity to build fine motor skills in the hand and to build confidence with drawing lines. It requires a lot of control and patience to draw these repetitive lines. By taking your time and being deliberate about the lines you are drawing, it can be quite relaxing!

STEP 1:

On a piece of drawing paper, use pencil to lightly draw or trace a rectangle. Then, use pencil to lightly draw mountains. Strive for at least 4 mountain ranges receding into the distance.

In this tutorial, the paper size is a 9″ x 12″ sheet of white drawing paper and a 5″ x 7″ rectangle frame.

For this step, consider other options such as changing the orientation of the paper to a vertical portrait composition or drawing rolling hills instead of mountains. Put your own creative touches on the drawing to make it your own.

STEP 2:

Use a THICK marker, to trace over the pencil lines.

STEP 3:

Use a THIN marker, to draw repeating lines that follow the contour of each mountain range. For each set of mountains, start at the top and work your way down until you cannot go any further.

Strive for each line to be as close together as you can achieve without touching the previous line. Even spacing will help to achieve a visually pleasing result.

STEP 4:

Continue drawing the repeating lines on each mountain range.

STEP 5:

Use pencil to draw a sun. If you wish to also draw clouds, consider that the clouds closer to the mountains will be SMALLER and they will get LARGER as they move up the paper.

STEP 6:

Use a THICK marker to outline the pencil.

STEP 7:

Use a THIN marker to draw lines that radiate from the sun. These lines can either be circular and curved (as seen here) or can be straight like sun rays.

STEP 8:

Continue the radiating sun lines until you reach the edge. Work around the clouds.

STEP 9:

Use a THIN marker, there draw contours inside the clouds. Get creative with how you approach this space!

STEP 10:

Use a ruler and pencil to draw a frame around the rectangle.

In this tutorial, a 1/2″ frame was drawn.

STEP 11:

Use a THICK marker to outline the frame.

STEP 12:

As seen in the circled example here, begin by drawing a variety of straight lines going in many different directions within the frame.

Then, draw repeating straight lines in each section.

Have a different idea for finalizing the frame? Maybe a creative zentangle pattern? Go for it and get creative!

STEP 13:

Continue drawing the straight lines to fill the frame.

STEP 14:

Once your line landscape is complete, you may want to get creative with color! In this example, a gold paint pen was used to create emphasis on the sun.

STUDENT EXAMPLES:

My middle school art students completed this project. It took about 2-3 (45 minute) class periods. I loved how students took creative liberties to explore composition, color, and line direction.