How to Paint Desert Scenery
- 1). Use a pencil to lightly sketch the general shape outlines for the desert scenery on a canvas. Use a reference picture, observe real desert scenery or create your own scenery. Create the horizon line and sand dune shapes with long fluid motions. Use size to show how near or far something is: The closer the cactus is to you, the bigger it will be.
- 2). Begin by painting the sky, using multiple colors and blending often. The colors you'll use will depend on the time of day. Mornings in the desert are filled with bright orange and yellow, midday features a brilliant blue, and night features purple, red and orange. Use a larger flat-headed paintbrush to apply the color of the sky and dot the brush over two color lines that you'd like to blend.
- 3). FIll in any sand or dirt on the ground by spreading the color around with a rounded-tip paintbrush. Use variations of the color to show depth; for example the sides of a sand dune will be a slightly darker shade than your chosen sand color. Areas that are higher up will be lighter, as they are closer to the sun.
- 4). While the paint is drying, lightly drag a dry paper towel across it to give some texture.
- 5). Fill in each shape, such as cacti, plants, rocks or wildlife with small paintbrushes, which are fine-tipped and designed for details. Concentrate on one section at a time, taking breaks if needed to keep your focus sharp.
Source...