64 Watercolor artist | OCTOBER 2019
BrightIdeas
P
lacing people in paintings can
enhance the visual experience for
viewers, helping them sense life
within a scene and become a part of
the story being told. Th e myth that
painting people in watercolor is
diffi cult can be dispelled with some
practice and courage. Consider these
10 practical tips for adding fi gures to
your landscape paintings.- Position the fi gure in relation
to or in context with the subject.
A fi gure shouldn’t distract the viewer
from the main subject; instead, it
should enhance the visual experience.
Th e viewer often identifi es with the
solitary fi gure in the landscape and
thus connects with the painting, so
the importance of a relevant fi gure
shouldn’t be underestimated. - Depict dynamism. Unlike other
elements in a landscape painting,
fi gures are dynamic subjects. When
drawing them en plein air, they need
to be rendered quickly because their
postures and expressions are fl eeting.
Simplify their shapes; what matters
most is their essence and gesture.
Details of facial features and clothing
are often superfl uous. - Use proportion eff ectively.
To provide a sense of realism, keep in
Follow these 10 easy tips for adding
a little life to your paintings.By Sagnik Biswas
Peopling the
Landscape
The prominent fi gure in A Lonely Street
(watercolor on paper, 14¼ x10¼ ) draws the
viewer into the landscape.