How to Paint an Easy Beginner Abstract Landscape: 8 Steps

Beginner abstract landscape painting demo

I’m starting with a canvas prepped with Titanium White. I used a thick coat and let the brush strokes remain, as you can see in the above photo. Let dry.

CREATE INTERESTING “LANDSCAPE HORIZON LINE”

Then use STRING GEL to create a drippy, landscape type horizon line across the center. Let thick drips remain.

Mix a little water with some string gel in a plastic container. Use a plastic spoon to drip the gel onto your canvas and then stand canvas up to let it drip a little. Let dry flat.

Let dry thoroughly.

CREATING A WARM-TONED BACKGROUND ON CANVAS

Here I used the golden yellow to create a background.

I painted on the color then used a paper towel to soften and blend. This creates a soft warm layer to paint over.

I also added some buff color (optional). This makes a softer, warm-toned background to build on.

Let your background dry thoroughly – at least 24 hours.

WATCH FULL TUTORIAL https://youtu.be/Gv3kUH9a0ZI

MIX YOUR BACKGROUND COLORS

I mixed the grey and blue and white paints.
Mix white with a little black (or use a grey). Mix the Prussian Blue with a little white; add a little grey.

Use more blue or grey as you like!

Painting the blue/grey layer. Use various strokes to create more visual interest. Use both the blue and grey colors you mixed.

Lightly go over the textured area to leave depth and show the texture.

I also “framed” this painting with the black. I went around the outer edge, as you can see in the photo, and left a black “frame” around the entire canvas. This is optional, but nice to add a little depth/drama to you artwork.

Let dry.

BRIGHTEN DULL COLORS:

Adding another layer of color / yellow

Here I added a coat of my glaze mix and while still wet, I added more of my golden yellow and blended.

Blending and muting with a paper towel. Use a light hand to leave some deeper areas of color and blend and soften most of it.

DEFINING THE Horizon Line ON THE LANDSCAPE PAINTING

I added more of the Prussian Blue to my knife and worked along the horizon line and below.

WATCH FULL TUTORIAL https://youtu.be/Gv3kUH9a0ZI

Here is final dry art. You can see the under-textures and the blends of blues.

Final artwork | Example matted and framed.

LIST OF MATERIALS USED:

–12″ x 12″ stretched canvas

–Titanium White

-Titanium Buff https://amzn.to/38ApajS

-Prussian Blue https://amzn.to/3lnp5TT

-Carbon Black High Flow https://amzn.to/3lmd3dy

-Black Acrylic Paint (soft body) https://amzn.to/38wnWpG

-Raw Sienna https://amzn.to/3kj60kJ

-String Gel https://amzn.to/35kuuWf

-Flat brushes (this is a great bargain set)

-Paper towel/ palette / mister bottle of water

I love this set of “starter” acrylic paints – it has almost every color you need!

Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint Set