Introduction
If you’ve ever wanted to create realistic drawings of mountains, you’re in the right place! Drawing mountains can be a challenging but rewarding artistic endeavor. In this tutorial, we’ll explore different techniques for drawing mountains and discuss how to effectively convey the beauty and grandeur of mountain landscapes.
Drawing Mountain: Defining Plains
One technique for drawing mountains involves creating distinct plains that make up the mountain’s body. By starting with a simple outline and adding plains, you can create a sense of depth and form. Check out the image below for a visual representation.
Drawing Mountain: Texturing
Once you’ve defined the plains of the mountain, it’s important to add texture to bring it to life. This involves using different strokes and shading techniques. The simplest stroke to use is dots and ticks, as shown in the image below.
You can also experiment with shading techniques to enhance the form and depth of the mountain. By considering the direction of light, you can create realistic shading that adds dimension to your drawing. Explore different approaches in my detailed workbook.
Drawing Mountain: Surface Imperfection Approach
Another approach to drawing mountains is to focus on their surface imperfections. Mountains have cuts and crevices that give character to their appearance. By incorporating these cuts into your drawing, you can convey the ruggedness and texture of a mountain. Refer to the image below for a visual representation.
Drawing Mountain with Cuts: Finishing
To complete your mountain drawing, add tapered dark lines to the edges and include small cuts along the edges and body to create a rough and realistic surface. This will help remove any excess white space and give the impression of a textured mountain surface. See the image below for reference.
Adding Background Tone
To enhance the overall tone and heaviness of your mountain drawing, consider adding a background tone using parallel lines. This will create a sense of depth and bring out the form of the mountain. Leaving a bit of white space can also create a highlight. View the image below for a visual example.
Shading Successive Layers
When drawing a mountain range, it’s important to consider the shading of successive layers. Darken the base of the mountains behind to create a contrast with the more sunlit top layers. This will help differentiate between the front and back mountains and add depth to your drawing. You can use additional parallel lines to add more tonal variation. Take a look at the image below for reference.
Drawing Mountain with Vertical Plains and Horizontal Paths
To create different effects and add variety to your mountain drawings, consider using vertical plains and horizontal paths. Vertical plains create a deep vertical cut on the mountain’s surface, while horizontal lines can give the impression of paths leading to the summit. Play around with different orientations and line shapes to achieve the desired effect. Refer to the images below for examples.
Vertical Plains:
Horizontal Paths:
Drawing Snow Covered Mountains
If you want to depict snow-covered mountains, simply leave some white space on the surface. This will create the impression of a glistening, snow-capped peak. For further guidance on drawing snow-covered mountains, refer to my detailed workbooks and step-by-step tutorials.
Conclusion
Drawing mountains requires a combination of skill, technique, and attention to detail. By employing different approaches like defining plains, texturing, surface imperfections, and adding background tones, you can create stunning and lifelike mountain landscapes. Experiment with various techniques, shapes, and orientations to develop your unique style and bring your mountain drawings to life!
Drawing Mountain: Templates
To practice the techniques discussed above, download the PDF templates available here. These templates will provide a valuable resource for honing your drawing skills. For further guidance and a more comprehensive learning experience, consider exploring my workbook series, which delves deeper into the art of drawing mountains and pen and ink techniques. Start your artistic journey today!
Rahul
