I am currently becoming very intrested in drawing landscapes, but as everyone who attempts to draw anything for the first time they devolp problems, either the scene is thrown off by something that dosent look like it fits or they can seem to figure out how to draw something within the scene. Which is my problem. I can draw relevantly good landscapes but there are some skills the are required that unfortunatly i am lacking. As hard as I try i cannot seem to draw realistic trees, or water...... I can draw pretty good trees but when it comes to the shading I am lost, they always come out looking flat and lacking a sense of realism and depth. When I draw water scenes the water looks dull and boring, like the water is completly still. i cannot seem to draw it with dimension or motion ( well look like its actually water insted of a solid shiny object) anyone got any advice??? Im completely lost and I refuse to give up. Althoough its incredibly frustrating...

This site has a lot of landscape-related lessons: the following come to mind immediately. Have you tried them all?

Spruce tree
Another tree
Atmosphere
Perspective
Forest
Reflections on water

That last one, especially, sounds like just what you'd need, and it's a very good one!

Landscapes can be challenging, but if you break them down into small sections, they become manageable. As with all subjects that you want to draw, its all light and dark values placed correctly.

Trees and water are no different. Perhaps you need to learn to really observe both elements and take them on in small portions. Sometimes the whole image looks a bit daunting, but look carefully at the texture and placement of shadows and light and you'll do fine.

If you would like to post a drawing that you've done that you think you're having problems with and we can help you with it.

I was trained by the renowned Swedish landscape artist Larz Friberg when I was younger, and he always told me that the key to copy nature in a realistic way is to observe and practise. He gave me "challenges" now and then, and among them was to draw nothing but trees from all kinds of angles.

Because there is a big variety of trees, limit yourself to a few selected ones in the beginning until you know them in your sleep. Sketch them and refine your sketches when you are happy with what you've done. It takes time to learn what they really look like and to get the right proportions etc. As with so many other objects we see every day it's more difficult to pin down straight away.

Personally I was so sick and tired of pines and birch for a while I never thought I'd draw or paint them again


Christa