“The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding.”

—LEONARDO DA VINCI

I’ve been painting for over forty years, and I’ve never stopped learning and striving for new and better ways to express the wondrous things I see in nature. One of the things that has allowed me to keep growing is an inquiry-based approach. I ask questions. I try new things. I seek out feedback from other painters. I even learned new things while writing this book, in consulting with so many of the contributing artists.

Painting can be a solitary endeavor, but growing as an artist is not. All good painters must, at least to some degree, remain students at heart. We tap into the wisdom of other creatives who may have the answers we seek, whether it’s in the form of an instructor, a masterpiece hanging on the museum wall, or a book like this one.

As an instructor and artist, I work with principles and practices that can be practically implemented. This is what is reflected in these pages. Because these ideas and exercises have been so beneficial to my students (and to me), I’m confident that if you apply them, you too will see your work improve. I hope that what you have learned from this book will support you in the never-ending inquiry that is landscape painting.

Paint on!