To simplify a busy scene, I look for smaller shapes that can be pulled together into larger groups. The snow-covered trees behind me in this video are a good reminder that a beautiful view can contain more pattern than I want in a painting.
Enjoy the scene, then choose
I made this recording near Payson, Arizona, after a snowfall. There are white snow shapes, dark openings and branches repeating all through the view. The scene is beautiful, but copying every small division would make the painting very busy.
I have made that mistake myself. The attraction of the place can encourage me to include too much. Before painting, I need to look at how those pieces could belong to a simpler arrangement.
Pull the small shapes together
My suggestion here is to combine some of those smaller shapes. Think in terms of larger patterns rather than treating each snowy branch as a separate subject. The same thought process can be useful in other crowded landscape subjects.
This clip is an observation from the location, not a demonstration of a finished snow painting. As the camera pans, look at how much information is present and consider which patterns you would keep together. Simplifying begins with that decision about what matters in the picture.
Continue with How To Unify Shapes and video How much detail is too much?.
