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Three Planes and Light & Shadow Landscape Assignment

Create six quick studies from the masters using the three planes and light/shadow approach. A fun, fast way to build clarity and simplify form.

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

Robert Joyner | Garage Studio Artist & Art Educator

— 3 min read
Light and Planes Landscape Painting Assignment hero image

Now it’s time to put the three-plane concept into action. You’ll be working from three master landscape paintings (shown below) and creating two studies for each — a total of six quick studies.

Study 1: Identify and simplify the three planes — flat, vertical, and angular.
Study 2: Focus on light and shadow only, reducing the image to just two major values.

Don’t get hung up on color or detail — this is all about recognizing how light interacts with form and how the masters handled plane separation.

This lesson is part of the Acrylic Landscape Painting Fundamentals Course - Section 2: Value Hierarchy.

Reference Paintings

Use these three classic landscapes as your reference points:

  1. Image 1: Rolling hills and trees under late afternoon light — clear vertical, angular, and flat plane structure.
  2. Image 2: A cool mountain valley scene — strong aerial perspective and clear shadow grouping.
  3. Image 3: A sunlit path with blue-purple mountain slopes — perfect for studying light direction and plane shifts.

Try timing yourself. Keep each study around 10–15 minutes. The goal is confidence and clarity, not precision.

A sunlit road cutting through golden hills and violet mountains, showing angled planes and sunlight transitions.
A landscape painting showing large trees and distant hills under warm light, ideal for studying vertical and flat planes.
A cool blue mountain valley scene with a winding stream, illustrating aerial perspective and tonal shifts.

Assignment Goals

  • Identify major value groups before painting.
  • Simplify complex shapes into 3–5 clear value areas.
  • Recognize where light hits strongest and where it fades.
  • Avoid over-modeling — stop before details take over.

This is an excellent warm-up or quick daily exercise that reinforces everything from Section 3 so far.

Previous Lesson: Master’s Examples of Planes & Light/Shadow
Next Lesson: Assignment – Robert’s Take
Return to Hub: Acrylic Landscape Painting Fundamentals

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