How To Use Scale In Landscape References For Art – Break the Static #12

This week in the sketchbook I have been doing some landscape references and thumbnails.

Out on a job site I’ve been working on I snapped some photos of holes, and trenches. Each one is no more than 1-2 feet high, but with the camera right near the ground they look impressive. The neat thing about landscapes is that they are infinitely scaleable. That means (for art reference) that an anthill up close can look as large as a volcano.

Like I mentioned above, this “cliff” is only about two feet tall, but its given the perfect reference for a horse and rider on a steep trail. (below)

This next hole had to be dug in a sort of non traditional way. As I was digging, I thought “whoa that really looks like a castle by the ocean”. The way the light hits it really gives that real life information on lighting. Although I might get close, I just couldn’t get just from imagination.

This trench wall is a foot tall, maybe a little less, but when I took the photo I really saw towering sea cliffs. Added the ship from another project just to give it that extra punch.

So I encourage you to go out and take your own reference photos, give it a try and get those creative juices flowing!

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