Inspiring landscapes

We've got a new series starting in the next issue that focuses on showing you how to create a harmonious balance of colours in your landscape paintings. It has been written for us by the Seattle-based artist and author Mitchell Albala (the man behind one of our favourite art books!) and features the work of plenty of American artists whose work we've really enjoyed looking through. The series of workshops will begin in issue 301, out on May 27, but in the meantime I thought I would showcase a few of the artists that Mitchell has brought to our attention...

Jim Lamb, Laguna Canyon Oaks, oil on linen

Jim Lamb will be featured in our first article in the series but this painting is from a series he is developing on Laguna Canyon in California. On his website Jim says, "I love the wonderful varieties, textures, and colors of growth on the dry slopes of the canyon" and I think that fondness for textures has translated beautifully here.

Joseph Paquet, Rural Electrification, oil on linen

After being pointed to Joseph's website, I particularly liked this new work of a quiet country road. I think he is particularly skilled at capturing what photographers call the "golden hour", the brief time of day before the sunsets when landscapes are lit beautifully.

Rodger Bechtold, Barn with Crabapple, oil on linen

Rodger Bechtold is an artist whose handling of colour shows you that you don't always have to stick to exactly what you see in front of you in order to paint interesting landscapes. This picture is particularly exciting with the colour of the trees set off by the vivid pinks of the barn. You can see a great video of Rodger's work by clicking here too.

So, now I've shared these new discoveries, let's put it to the floor... Have you recently come across a new artist whose work you would like to tell us about? And who is your favourite landscape painter of all time?