Step 1:

We will be using a landscape for this challenge. You can search online for a picture of a landscape that appeals to you. Keywords to search could be: Tropical Landscape, Desert, Waterfall, Mountain, Fall/Autumn, Winter, River, Lake, Sunset, Sunrise, Lightning Storm, Ocean Waves, Night Reflections...

Step 2: (Optional)

Some students may want to create or build their own custom landscape, this is called a "Hybrid" image. Hybrid means, something that is made by combining two different elements, a mixture.

To do this you need to find at least 2 landscape pictures, then select one of them to be the "main" landscape. Sketch out the details that you want to use from the main landscape. Then decide which elements you would like to "add" from the 2nd landscape to the "main" landscape. Some students draw all of the "main" landscape picture and use just the colors from the 2nd landscape picture.

Step 3:

Depending on what material you are using to color the drawing, you may want to adjust the amount of details you include.

If you are using color pencils, water color paints, crayons, pens; you should be able to add a lot of details (these materials can generally be used with greater precision and pressure to avoid covering up the fine details).

If you are using oil pastels, tempera paints, acrylic paints, markers, chalks/pastels; you may want to add less details (these materials may cover up some of those fine details as you blend/paint over them).

Some students that use paints, pastels or markers draw their sketches with a just a few details "before" they fill in areas of color -then- add more details "after" they fill in and blend the larger areas.

Step 4:

After your image is drawn you will make one more important decision; what color style will you use? There are two main choices for this challenge, Exaggerated -or- Realistic.

First you need to decide on how you want your picture to "feel." For example: you drew a picture of a sandy beach with waves splashing on shore, palm trees gently blowing in the breeze and a series of mountains behind the palms reaching towards the sky. Instead of using a "realistic" color scheme for this tropical location you decide to make it look "exaggerated" and "icy cold."

To do this, you use a color palette of blues, purples and grays. You use the gray colors ranges in the sand and the palm tree trunks. The water has shades of light purple and light blue. The mountains are made up of blended blues and purples while the palm tree branches are a lighter variation of green.

The end result may make the viewer feel cold or chilly and wonder, "Why is this tropical location is so cold looking?"