Hi Everyone!

We’re excited to launch Creative Clues, a new monthly feature of Art Starts at Louisville Visual Art. With each new Clue, we’ll provide some pointers to help you succeed and improve.

Creative Clues Showcase

CLUE: LANDSCAPE
Deadline for artwork submission is November 30, 2022 at midnight.

HOW TO: Landscape

A landscape painting or drawing refers to an artwork whose primary focus is natural scenery, such as mountains, forests, cliffs, trees, rivers, valleys, etc. Artists have been representing landscapes for centuries. Please check out the art of Guo Xi (from the 11th century), Pieter Bruegel the Elder (from the 16th century), Caspar David Friedrich (from the 19th century), and Annie Bielecka and Richard Mayhew (both from the 21st century).

Guo Xi

Guo Xi (born in 1020, in China) was a Chinese landscape painter from Henan Province who lived during the Northern Song dynasty. Early Spring is one of his most famous paintings, which exhibits the artist's skill for combing multiple perspectives within one composition.

To learn more about Guo Xi go to this link.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder

Pieter Bruegel the Elder (born around 1525, from Breda or Breugel/modern-day Netherlands) was a leading artists of the Northern Renaissance. His painting The Hunters in the Snow was part of a series about the changing seasons. Notice the foreground, middle ground and background in this painting.

To learn more about Pieter Bruegel the Elder go to this link.

Caspar David Friedrich

Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840, born in Germany) fits into the German Romanticism that began in 1770. His moody landscapes, placing the audience in the wilds of nature, created an emotional connection with the viewer. The Monk by the Sea invites us to reflect, but above all, to let our mind wander.

To learn more about Caspar David Friedrich go to this link.

The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.
Marcel Proust

Annie Bielecka

Annie Bielecka was born and raised in the Welsh speaking community of Cricieth, Gwynedd in Wales. Annie’s work reflects her love of the sea and the timelessness of landscape. Her textile designs are inspired by the sea travels and reflect on the landscape of her Welsh upbringing. Decorative techniques cross the boundaries of fine and applied art.

To learn more about Annie Bielecka go to this link.

Richard Mayhew

Richard Mayhew (born in 1924, in Amityville, NY) is a Master of Landscape Painting. He calls his colorful landscapes, mindscapes. Richard Mayhew's connection to the natural world has its roots in his African American and Native American ancestry. Mayhew was inspired by the French Impressionists, whose experiments in light and color would influence his landscapes. He was involved in Spiral Movement and Civil Rights Struggle during the 60's. Throughout Mayhew's career as an artist and respected educator he has stayed true to his memory of his ancestors through nature and beauty. Notice how he uses color and shape in his landscapes.

To learn more about Richard Mayhew view this video.

How To Project: November “Feels” Landscape

November is a time of change, have you noticed how the trees have mostly lost their leaves by now. They are not dead, they are just in a stage of change, they are resting now for new growth in spring. Your challenge for this project is think of trees, real ones or imaginary.

In a landscape painting or drawing convey an impression of trees and their surroundings to your viewer. Quiet, anxiety, peacefulness, change … the feelings that nature (or trees) surrounds you with. Close your eyes and think about an outdoor space that means something to you. Think of all the details you can remember about a typical day at this place, such as the weather, what was nearby, etc. Freeze that image in your mind's eye (make it still and unmoving). You may want to review the December 2021 Creative Clue - Space about foreground, middle ground and background in a landscape. How can you visually evoke the feeling of place? Use the art mediums you prefer right now, (and in the future, your choice of art mediums may “change”).

Supplies you will need:

pencil
paper, cardboard, canvas, drawing paper – your choice
paints, pastels, oil pastels, markers – your choice

“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”

— George Bernard Shaw

“Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.”

— Victor Hugo

Send in your LANDSCAPE artwork

Deadline for artwork submission is November 30, 2022 at midnight.

Content: family friendly (LVA will determine if artwork is appropriate to share online.)
Ages 5 to 105!
Photo Guidelines: here is a nifty link, if you want to learn to take great pictures of your artwork

Consent and Permission: By filling out the form below, you give LVA permission to display your artwork and information in the Creative Clue Showcase. *NOTE: if you are under 18 years old, please have a parent or guardian complete the form.
Address: email artwork to: artstartshere@louisvillevisualart.org
Social Media: you may share your artwork on Instagram: #artwithinreach, #ArtStartsAtLVA

LVA will notify you if your artwork is in the Creative Clues Showcase at the end of the month. artstartshere@louisvillevisualart.org

Send Us Your Artwork

Remember to use your past How To pages to come up with creative solutions for your new clue:

January 2021 - Winter -Thumbnails

February 2021 - Heart - Research

March 2021 - Chair

April 2021 - Spring

May 2021 - Breeze

June 2021 - Light

July 2021 - Together

August 2021 - Trees

September 2021 - Apples & Pears