HOW TO DRAW A SPRINGTIME LANDSCAPE WITH FIBRALO™ BRUSH FELT TIP PENS

Imagine sitting in a field full of flowers, breathing in the scent of cherry blossom and letting Spring inspire your next work of art. Whether you’re a long-time artist or just starting out, the Caran d’Ache Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens are perfect for unleashing your creativity. Blossom on the trees, a corner of blue sky and soft colours make the world a living canvas which acts as an invitation to daydream. Take your notebook and let yourself be guided to create a vibrant landscape, a true celebration of colour and the renewal of Spring.

An invitation to be creative: thanks to the brush tip on the Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens, the ink is applied slowly and fluidly, making it perfect to mimic the natural textures of nature. These pens are also very precise, making them perfect for drawing everything from fine grasses to leafy trees; they will answer every creative need.

A rich palette of colours: with its wide range of colours, every landscape comes alive before your eyes. Gradients blend effortlessly, making it easy to capture the subtle colour nuances to be found in a morning sky or dusky shadows.

Long-lasting and high-quality: renowned for their durability, using Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens guarantees that your drawing or colouring projects stay bright, with vibrant colours that won’t fade over time.

The softness of watercolour: thanks to their brush tip, Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens can easily be used as watercolours. Simply add some water to make the ink spread and mix, creating a layered effect and subtle nuances, just as in a classic watercolour painting.

• Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens: opt for soft colours that reflect the vibrancy of Spring, such as green, pink and blue.

• A sketch notebook or a pad of drawing paper: opt for thicker paper which will absorb the pens’ ink without smudging or running.

• A kneaded eraser or rubber: to erase gently without damaging the paper.

• A ruler and graphite pencils: for preliminary sketches before you colour your work.

1. Preparation and preliminary sketch
Start with a light sketch to determine the composition of your landscape. Place main elements such as a tree full of blossom in the foreground, more trees in the middle ground, and the outline of some mountains in the background. Sketch lightly with the graphite pencil to make it easier to adjust and erase without marking the paper.

2. Use the atmospheric perspective technique
This involves using paler colours for elements in the background, such as a mountain, to make them seem further away. For the closer trees, use darker and more saturated colours. This technique will convey a sense of depth.

3. Details and finishing touches
Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens have fine points, making them perfect for adding precise details such as tree branches and types of grass. Remember to vary the shades of green that you use for a more realistic look, use bright colours for the flowers, and a soft blue that will suggest the springtime sky.

4. Watercolour effects
Make the most of the Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens’ water-soluble properties, thanks to the paintbrush-like tip and some water. Adding water to certain coloured areas of your painting will soften the overall effect.

Perspective gives a feeling of depth and realism to your artwork. Here are 5 tips that will help you master this technique.

• Understand vanishing points:
Using vanishing points on the horizon line will help you with the size and placement of the various elements in your drawing and will create a sense of depth.

• Use converging lines:
Sketch lines that converge towards the vanishing point before you start adding details to your drawing. This will keep proportions correct and reinforce the impression of depth.

• Vary the intensity of colours and details:
To make background features seem further away, draw them with less detail and lighter colours.

• Practise with simple scenes:
Start with simple compositions such as a road disappearing over the horizon or a simple landscape to get used to the techniques of perspective.

• Observe and analyse:
Study photos or real landscapes to understand how we see perspective in the real world and apply what you observe to your work.
 

The trick to adding life and vibrancy to your Spring landscape is to incorporate a sense of movement. Use curved lines to draw the trees and grass to represent the effects of the wind. For the background mountains use lighter colours that will convey a sense of distance and add white highlights to evoke snowy mountaintops or sunlit summits. If your scene includes water, draw it with wavy lines and recreate reflections on the water with touches of white highlights, which will bring life to the sparkles on the water in the Spring sunshine.

Find the best colour combinations by using a chromatic wheel. For a springtime sky, mix pale blues with pink or orange to evoke sunrises and sunsets. Adapt your colour palette to the light at different times of day: warm tones in the morning and evening, brighter colours at noon.

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For a Spring landscape, first select the main colour such as a vibrant or dark green before adding touches of complementary colours to create contrast (such as pink or red for flowers).

Explore the infinite possibilities offered by Caran d’Ache Fibralo™ Brush felt tip pens to add depth and inject vibrancy into your drawings. Once you have finished your work, remember to share it on social media, tagging @carandache and adding the #carandache hashtag.