Simple Techniques for Better Landscapes (DVD + Streaming)

Learn how to draw landscapes you love with confidence and clarity alongside artist and instructor Nancy Ellen Thompson. Start class by discovering basic concepts for setting up captivating compositions. Next, select a reference photo, pick a focal point and get tips for creating a rough sketch. Add texture and tone to your work using essential mark-making methods. Want to bring eye-catching depth and distance to your drawings? Learn how with techniques for achieving accurate value, details and perspective in your landscape features. Then, bring your graphite drawing to life as Nancy Ellen teaches you how to draw realistic trees, grasses, mountains, rocks, water and more. You’ll even find out how to place and draw fences, houses and sidewalks for outdoor scenes that are closer to home.

NOTE: If you’d like to purchase only the DVD for this class, you may do so through this link. (Please note, any class PDF materials are not on the DVD itself. You must have streaming access to download those materials associated with the class.)

Composition (28:48)
Meet your instructor, Nancy Ellen Thompson, who will guides you through the easiest techniques to make your landscape drawings pop. Start with the basic ideas behind composition and explore techniques such as light against dark, the rule of thirds, and line perspective. Pick a photo and start your sketch!

Reference Material & Rough Sketch (18:15)
Nancy helps you decide the best position for your focal point and demonstrates materials you can use, such as a rubylith, to help differentiate the light and dark values. She will also explain the difference between sketching and drawing and help you begin to create a rough sketch of your photo drawing.

Creating Value (25:23)
Start your crosshatches! Nancy monstrates how to understand value differences in a drawing and shows how to test variations in pencil hardness to achieve the effects you want. Be sure to test your own pencil set before beginning, then start to add texture and tone to a tree sketch.

Depth & Distance (27:50)
Use your light and dark values to create depth and distance in your drawing. Nancy demonstrates how to properly place objects in your drawing to create a sense of distance. Then she shows you how to use both soft and hard edges with details or no details to provide perspective.

Trees, Shrubs, Grass & Mountains (30:25)
Add life to your landscape with realistic trees, shrubs, grass and mountains. Follow Nancy’s directions to make your trees and grasses come to life. She’ll also show you how to create a background of mountains without using harsh lines.

Rocks & Water (21:46)
Expand your landscape details by drawing unique rocks and water reflections. Follow Nancy’s simple demonstration to draw convincing water reflections. For a more advanced technique, sketch out a waterfall or rapids area that pairs rocks and water together in one drawing.

Man-Made Elements (11:40)
Add the final details to your drawing with man-made elements. Nancy helps you place fences, houses and sidewalks to add life to your drawing. Add more texture and shading for visual appeal, but ultimately the drawing is yours! Let your creative juices flow.

Nancy Ellen Thompson

Teaching art is a way of life for Nancy Ellen Thompson. She loves sharing her techniques with both new and accomplished artists in workshops throughout the country and on Craftsy. Nancy Ellen takes on a limited number of commissions, and her work can be found in private collections worldwide. Nancy Ellen is represented by Bishop’s Stock Gallery in Snow Hill, Maryland and City Art Gallery in Columbia, South Carolina.

How will I receive my DVD class?
Your DVD will be shipped in the mail using the address you provide at checkout. Your purchase also includes access to a streaming version of the class and downloadable PDF class materials. After your purchase, you can find your streaming class and your PDF class materials by logging into your Craftsy account using the user name and password you established.

How do I access the companion materials for my DVD class?
Come to Craftsy.com and log into your account using the username and password you set up when establishing your Craftsy account or purchasing your DVD. In your “My Account” area, select the “Classes” content. On this page, you’ll see all classes you’ve purchased from Craftsy. Simply select the desired class from your content list, and you’ll be presented with your selected class page. From the class page you can easily view, download or print the companion class materials, which are in the “Bonus Materials” tab on the class page. You can log in any time, and download or print the companion materials as many times as you like. Companion class materials are not shipped in the mail with your DVD, and must be accessed on Craftsy.com.

How do I stream my class on Craftsy.com?
Come to Craftsy.com and log into your account using the username and password you set up when establishing your Craftsy account or purchasing your DVD. In your “My Account” content, select the desired class. Stream the video on-demand from the class page any time you like; your viewing access is unlimited. You can stream your class from any computer, tablet or mobile device with Internet access.

Do I have to purchase a Craftsy Membership to get my class?
No, you do not. Every DVD purchased on Craftsy.com includes both the physical DVD in the mail and unlimited on-demand streaming access at Craftsy.com. These benefits are yours with or without a Craftsy membership.

Are DVDs included in a Craftsy Membership?
No, they are not. DVDs can only be purchased on an individual basis and are not included in Craftsy memberships. For non-members, DVDs are a flexible way to purchase only the classes you love best. For members, DVDs are a great choice to build an at-home library you can keep forever and enjoy any time, with or without Internet access.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we do ship most physical products, including DVDs, to several International destinations. In addition to the USA and Canada, we ship to Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and most Western European countries. If you live outside these countries, you can still purchase digital items including memberships, individual streaming classes, and pattern downloads.

Do your DVDs work on international players?
Yes, our DVDs should be compatible with any DVD player in use today. All our videos have been created with all current Region Codes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8). If you have trouble viewing a DVD purchased from Craftsy.com, please contact Customer Service.

What is your return policy?
We want to be sure you’re satisfied. If you have trouble playing your DVD, if the content is not correctly presented on the DVD, or you are dissatisfied with the content of your class, we will work with you. Contact Craftsy customer service via email or phone. Upon your request, and upon your return of the DVD to us, we will refund your purchase price or send you another DVD to replace a damaged or incorrect DVD, whichever is your preference. If you do receive a full refund, your streaming video class will also be removed from your Craftsy account, so on-demand video access will no longer be available to you.