@duffydanis: When a mountain scene looks flat on paper, it is often because every ridge has the same sharp edges and dark shading. A simple way to build depth is to draw the landscape in layers, starting with the farthest shapes and working toward the viewer.

Look at your reference and find three groups: distant peaks, middle slopes, and the nearest land. Lightly trace each group’s outer shape first. Pay close attention to where one ridge crosses in front of another. That overlap is a clear clue about what sits closer.

Then give each layer a different treatment:

1. Distant mountains: Keep the pencil pressure light, details sparse, and edges soft. Let their shapes feel quieter than the ones in front.

2. Middle slopes: Use a little more contrast. Add a few visible ridges or bands of shading, but leave some open paper so the forms do not all merge together.

3. Foreground: Use your darkest accents here, along with the clearest edges and most specific details. You do not need to darken every part. A few carefully placed shadows can make the nearest shapes stand forward.

For a quick check, squint at the reference and your sketch. If all three layers blend into one value, gently strengthen the contrast between them. If the far peaks are as dark and crisp as the foreground, lighten them with an eraser and soften a few edges. Keep the changes gradual rather than outlining every mountain heavily.

Try this with a small section of a photo first. Even an imperfect first pass can teach you to notice overlaps, edges, and light more carefully. Save this for your next landscape sketch, and comment with the scene you would like to draw next. Follow Audrey Dubois for more calm, practical drawing practice.

Audrey Dubois

Open In TikTok:

Region: US

Wednesday 14 October 2026 08:18:55 GMT