Crafting a Soft Landscape: Tools and Rituals
(This post contains affiliate links to products I love)
There’s a certain kind of quiet joy in creating a painting that feels like it’s drifting in from another world. Soft edges, muted light, gentle storytelling woven in with every brushstroke. I've been painting otherworldly landscapes for years now and I am still always excited to see how a new painting is going to turn out.
This painting 'Lucern' turned out so pretty I thought i'd show you the behind the scenes of creating it!
This isn’t a strict tutorial, think of it more like an invitation to see the way I throw paint around when I create. A lot of my process is purely intuitive- this means I build my paintings as I go opposed to having a rigid plan. I like to paint whatever feels right for the work at hand.
My Old-World Inspiration
A huge part of my process comes from the past. I’m endlessly inspired by the romantic era of balanced composition and the natural world. You can learn more about Romanticism here with this book! (https://amzn.to/4oH4FW6).
From faded photographs and delicate antique illustrations to forgotten sketches tucked away in archives, I love taking fragments of old worlds and reshaping them into something new.
Often, I’ll begin with an old photo or drawing: a landform, a gesture, the way a landscape image moves. Then I reimagine it. I soften it, distort it slightly, weave in my own symbols, and let it drift into something dreamlike. It’s a way of honouring the past while building a world that never existed. My paintings never actually end up looking anything like my starting inspiration material, but it anchors me with a starting point.
I never follow a strict plan. Mainly because I'm terrible at that and it never works so I've learned to just focus on what I'm doing and paint until I like what I see.
Crafting 'Lucern'
Going into this piece, all I knew was I wanted it to be high contrast, pale blues and have a giant structure. I'm using oils on top of a primed blue acrylic base here so I can blend easily to get the mist effect I love.
The Supplies I Use for That Misty, Romantic Finish
I always say: you don’t need a thousand tools, you just need a few of the right ones and then you can use them until they disintegrate. These are the materials I reach for when layering that soft, magical texture. I've also included some progress photos so you can see how the painting slowly developed!
(I’ve linked everything below- or very similar products.)
1. My Favourite Smooth Canvas
I choose surfaces that absorb gently. Nothing too toothy so the layers melt into each other instead of sitting harshly on top. Weighty handmade stretcher bars and 12oz smooth triple primed cotton canvas are my favourite.
2. My Textures
If you're familiar with my painting style, you'll know I commit hard to textures. Whether it's as a base or woven in with thick impasto, I love a heavy canvas. Most often, I use GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel as a base to create lovely texture to create land forms from. It's got some flex so I don't have to treat the canvas like it's a sculpture that I'm scared to break.
3. The Brushes That Create That “Soft Edge” Look
I rely on a mix of tiny detail brushes and a few very soft blending brushes. These are what let me make edges feel like mist instead of outlines. I don't care too much for expensive brushes as I destroy them in about 6 months. The only brushes I invest in are my go-to Liquitex Paddles. They're perfect for smooth flowing lines and blending.
4. My Go-To Paints for Dreamy Colour Palettes
Muted dreamy tones, dusky blues, gentle greens, and soft creamy haze. I love paints that layer well without becoming muddy. My favourite brands include GOLDEN, Liquitex, Gamblin, Daler Rowney, Art Spectrum, Chromacryl and Sennelier oil pastels. I like to use an acrylic base and then use oils on top. Textured bases are always made with my archival medium by GOLDEN.
5. The Mediums That Add Depth
I use a small amount of medium to create that sheer, glowing glaze effect—almost like painting with light. I mix my oils with Gamsol and Galkyd Lite.
6. Layering: The Heart of the Dreamworld Look
The biggest “secret” is softness through layers. I build the painting slowly, almost like fog drifting in. Transparent shadows, warm underpainting, and then tiny points of detail that guide the eye.
When you let go of perfection and just allow the painting to bloom, it becomes something otherworldly.
Here's a list of some of my favourite products and brands (or very similar):
Dark Wood Professional Artist Easel - https://amzn.to/3Ybz8Ax
Canon EOS RP Mirrorless DSLR Camera - https://amzn.to/4axbK7V
iPad Pro with Apple Pencil - https://amzn.to/4rFAbq5
12 oz triple primed cotton canvas roll - https://amzn.to/4oF40Eu