Author: Johannes Vloothuis

How would you like some ready-to-go-photos to jump right in and paint? Most of the composition has already been solved to make it easier for you. I have picked the best from over 1000 photos I took at Teton National Park. It is absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever seen and offers tons of subject material for landscape artists. I'm also including some suggestions on what to change in the photos to better your painting. I believe there is a good lesson here on how to use but not abuse photos. If you see a picture you like, simply click on it to view it in more detail. So download them and happy painting! Remember you can always send in your painting for a critique. If you need help, feel free to email me at johannes@wetcanvas.com, or post a message in the landscape message board. Before we begin, here are some general suggestions to guide you: Kill the monotonous greens by adding reddish tones and yellow green highlights in some areas. Remember how they look in the autumn. Don't be overly influenced by the photos. I took them in summer time. Cool the greens in the far distance by using mauves, blues and green blues. Add interesting colors to the sky. Even change the sky color completely; pink morning sky, late afternoon oranges. Put in some clouds. Change the values in the three planes; foreground, middle ground, and background. Leave the trees as masses of color. Don't be concerned about depicting individual leaves. In rivers and lakes, show progression through gradual value change. Lean trees, plants, etc into the picture. Good luck!

	Turn the logs to point to the cabin. Put the foreground in shadow. Show more of the wall in the cabin.
	Lighten the value of the background. Leave darks in the foreground. Reposition the logs to point into the middle.
	Reduce the size of the hill. Make the sky more interesting by adding clouds.
	Try making it a night seen and turn on the lights in the window!
	Add some wild flowers near the birch trees.
	Straighten the mountain in the background.
	Make it a wooden rowboat instead!
	Change the colors in the lake.
	Remove the two evergreens that cover the mountain.
	Add some side poles to the bridge.
	Darken the immediate foreground.
	Add some grass in-between the foreground stones.

These photos are ready to go!

Johannes is a Canadian born artist who specializes in landscape painting in watercolor and oils. He has held exhibitions throughout Mexico, Canada, and Italy. Besides painting, he has been teaching for over 20 years and feels proud for having helped so many amateur artists turn into professionals. He doesn't believe talent is necessary to become a good artist. Correct guidance and constant practice will achieve great results. He will not hold back "professional secrets". He is well known for his clear explanations. Johannes is the resident WetCanvas! art reviewer, providing free electronic critiques of artwork submitted by our readers. He can be reached via email at johannes@wetcanvas.com.