Artist kneeling on the floor over a large sheet of paper lit by a narrow beam of sunlight.

A woman in a mauve top and dark pants walks along a grassy path beside a rocky coastline with orangeish reeds under a cloudy sky.

Watercolor landscape painting of a calm lake or river with soft mountains, pastel clouds, and warm golden light near the horizon.

Close-up of a hand brushing a warm ochre wash across a large sheet of paper outdoors.

How I Create My Landscape Paintings

Every painting develops a little differently, but the process usually moves through observation, experimentation, and editing. I work in watercolor and mixed media, building the image in layers and letting color, marks, and materials reshape what I started with. Here’s a look at how the work comes together from first idea to finished painting.

My Process

Concept

My process often begins outdoors, with light, weather, and the landscape itself. I pay attention to what catches me—color, atmosphere, a particular shape or feeling—and let that become the starting point for the painting.
Creation

I usually begin with watercolor, then add other materials as the painting develops. Some areas stay loose and transparent; others are layered, obscured, redrawn, or pushed further with ink, graphite, charcoal, pastel, collage, or iridescent details.
Finishing

The final stage is mostly editing—strengthening some areas, quieting others, removing what the painting doesn’t need, and adding the last marks or iridescent details. I stop when the painting feels resolved without becoming overworked.