#011 How to Grow Skills in Art - Conquering Complicated Subjects

Hi! 

What happens when we step back and take in a full view such as a landscape or a busy street? It can be overwhelming. Young artists typically shy away from this type of subject and focus on one tree or one object within their view. That's okay, if that's what you want to draw. But, there might be occasion when you want to show a subject and what surrounds it. 

Today, I will show you how to approach a complicated subject like a landscape. This photo was taken near the Rocky Mountains. Objects fill every part of it, including a pretty complex group of clouds in the sky. But all can be handled easily when we know how to look at the objects within. I always tell my students, "We can draw anything we want, but we can't draw everything." There's a reason we don't start with drawing every leaf that we see. 

Enjoy Drawing!

Brenda Ellis, author of ARTistic Pursuits.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER

• Our skills in art are never improved with information alone. We have to make the art to see improvement in our skills.
• Why you can draw anything you see, but you can't draw everything. 
• How to simplify details into big, bold shapes
• After large shapes are in place, we focus on the outside of those shapes with more detail and then focus on detail within the shape.