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Acrylic Painting Tutorials

Understanding Light & Planes in Acrylic Landscapes

Discover how light defines form in this key lesson on the three main planes — horizontal, vertical, and angular — and how each reacts to sunlight and shadow.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

— 2 min read
Understanding Light & Planes in Landscapes hero image

In this lesson, we explore how light interacts with the three major planes that make up most landscapes — flat, vertical, and angular. Mastering this concept gives you control over light direction, shadow placement, and overall structure in your painting.

This lesson is part of the Acrylic Landscape Painting Fundamentals Course

The Three Common Planes

  1. Flat (Ground) Plane — The lightest plane because it directly faces the sky and receives the most sunlight.
  2. Vertical Plane — The darkest plane, often seen on trees, buildings, or cliffs. It receives less direct light and reflects less bounce light.
  3. Angular Plane — Falls somewhere between the two. Sloped hills or rooftops catch light differently depending on their angle and the sun’s position.
A simple acrylic landscape study showing a tree casting a shadow across flat, angled, and vertical planes—demonstrating how light and shadow behave on different surfaces.

How Light Travels Across the Landscape

Imagine sunlight moving across a dome — that light hits the ground first, then bounces up into shadows. This ambient light softens the darks, making cast shadows on the ground slightly lighter than shadows on vertical planes.

Use this relationship to give your landscapes more believable contrast:

  • Darkest darks: vertical forms in shadow
  • Midtones: sloped or angled planes
  • Lightest lights: horizontal ground planes

Avoid Overcomplicating Planes

As you paint, keep your value structure simple:

  • Identify whether each area is in light or shadow
  • Avoid over-modeling or blending too many half-tones
  • Use accents sparingly for highlights or reflected light

This discipline helps keep your structure solid — and your painting more painterly.

Try This Exercise

Create a quick study like the one shown above. Use three clear value zones and note how changes in plane angle shift your light. Keep it loose and focus on overall design rather than detail.

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