Acrylic Landscapes Close to Home

Find inspiration in the world around you—paint dazzling landscapes from photos of your neighborhood with the help of acrylic artist Susan Stillman.

Glimpse into the mind of an experienced artist and discover how her inspiration is photographed and translated into beautiful, jewel-like acrylic paintings. Capture spatial depth using atmospheric perspective, achieve the varieties of green in nearby foliage and create a landscape glowing with warm light. You don't need to travel to exotic locales for landscape inspiration—combine artistic vision and Stillman's acrylic painting techniques to create landscape paintings of your own neighborhood.

Lesson 1. Painting With Acrylic

Lesson 2. Composing a Landscape

Lesson 3. Preparing to Paint

Stillman prepares and primes a wood board for painting and draws in her composition before teaching you useful color terminology.

29:27

Lesson 4. Blocking In Color

Begin painting in general shapes of color of major objects in your composition.

29:56

Lesson 5. The Many Varieties of Green

Block in tree shapes and build up your foreground and background treelines.

27:43

Lesson 6. Refining Colors and Details

Increase the degree of realism to your painting by add value and establishing focal points.

28:29

Lesson 7. Developing the Focal Point

Refine and add further detail to clapboard house, the main subject of the piece.

31:41

Lesson 8. Finishing Touches

Complete the painting by adding further light and form to buildings and trees and detailing the foreground.

"Susan is a great teacher and now I feel like I live in the most beautiful neighborhood in existence. Thanks for helping me 'see!'" - lyndadaleusa

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Lesson plan

5:18

Lesson 1. Painting With Acrylic

Meet Susan Stillman and learn about the tools used in this class.

15:20

Lesson 2. Composing a Landscape

Learn how Stillman finds inspiration in composing her pieces.

15:35

Lesson 3. Preparing to Paint

Stillman prepares and primes a wood board for painting and draws in her composition before teaching you useful color terminology.

29:27

Lesson 4. Blocking In Color

Begin painting in general shapes of color of major objects in your composition.

29:56

Lesson 5. The Many Varieties of Green

Block in tree shapes and build up your foreground and background treelines.

27:43

Lesson 6. Refining Colors and Details

Increase the degree of realism to your painting by add value and establishing focal points.

28:29

Lesson 7. Developing the Focal Point

Refine and add further detail to clapboard house, the main subject of the piece.

31:41

Lesson 8. Finishing Touches

Complete the painting by adding further light and form to buildings and trees and detailing the foreground.

The instructor

Susan Stillman, Instructor of Acrylic Landscapes Close to Home

Susan Stillman holds a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and an MFA from Brooklyn College. She also spent a year in Rome studying painting.
She has been a member of the faculty of Parsons School of Design since 1983.
Since 1978, her work has been published in hundreds of magazines, newspapers, posters and books.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(8 reviews)

Great Tips

by lynnlambe6224552 on February 16, 2015

I have been painting for a few years and I am continuing to learn so many great tips from Susan. She is an excellent teacher. I'm really enjoying the course!

I have been painting for a few years and I am continuing to learn so many great tips from Susan. She is an excellent teacher. I'm really enjoying the course!

First few Lessons

by finneyhor5046281 on December 25, 2014

Just started watching. As an intermediate painter, relatively new to landscapes I am finding this both easy to follow and inspirational.

Just started watching. As an intermediate painter, relatively new to landscapes I am finding this both easy to follow and inspirational.

Packed With Pointers!

by lynellgsm3713540 on December 22, 2014

I've been watching about half an hour, and I've already learned some cool things. Susan is easy to listen to and learn from. I'm now anxious to start painting from some of my pictures.

I've been watching about half an hour, and I've already learned some cool things. Susan is easy to listen to and learn from. I'm now anxious to start painting from some of my pictures.

Lots Of Great Information

by su.rose4728961 on November 21, 2014

Susan's a natural teacher. Her explanation of color, light and shape from start to finish were easy to follow. Watching her paint was really helpful. I'll be returning to these lessons often.

Susan's a natural teacher. Her explanation of color, light and shape from start to finish were easy to follow. Watching her paint was really helpful. I'll be returning to these lessons often.

Color Tips

by sandchele@aol.com on June 23, 2014

It is very interesting to learn about the light and shadow tips when taking photos for information when I get ready to paint. I will also take notes next time I take photos to remind me of the colors I see in life that the camera my not capture.

It is very interesting to learn about the light and shadow tips when taking photos for information when I get ready to paint. I will also take notes next time I take photos to remind me of the colors I see in life that the camera my not capture.