Often called "fantasy landscapes," an imaginary landscape is one that is designed from the artist's imagination. This genre can have a broad interpretation, and it is one that has been explored by several artists throughout the past. Look at each of the following artworks and answer these questions about it:
Click through the slides to view each image and learn more about the artwork.
The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí, 1931, Surrealism
This artwork is a landscape because of the horizon line and what looks like a seacoast with a cliff next to it. However, it is filled with unrealistic things, such as melting clocks and something that looks like a portion of a sleeping face. This dreamlike landscape is one of Dalí's most famous artworks.
The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, 1889, Post-Impressionism
This artwork is also an imaginary landscape, even though it is based on a real place. Van Gogh painted this from his window that overlooked a small town; however, the sizes and forms of the tree, stars, and moon are all exaggerated to make them seem much larger than the town below. The combination of swirling marks, bold color contrast, and contrasting scales seems to communicate the vastness of heaven compared to small human lives.
Palm Trees on Martinique by Paul Gauguin, 1887, Post-Impressionism
While the colors in this landscape may be slightly exaggerated, Gauguin does not push them to the point that they are unrealistic. This landscape is closer to realistic and, therefore, would not be considered imaginary. This looks like a place that could truly exist in the world.
The Scream by Edvard Munch, 1893, Expressionism
While this is definitely a piece with a lot of imagination, it is difficult to decide if it is a landscape or a portrait. The main figure is fairly small, but it is big enough to be the focal point of the piece. This is something you will need to consider when doing your own work.
When planning an imaginary landscape, make sure that the main focus of your artwork is a landscape, cityscape, seascape, or cloudscape. This can mean that the other objects in your artwork fit into the landscape (Dalí) or that aspects of the landscape are exaggerated to the point where they aren't realistic anymore (van Gogh).
Another way to think of a fantasy landscape is to recall the landscapes in stories, such as Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, or Peter Pan. Yet another idea is to create a landscape from the viewpoint of an ant or a giant. Imagine what a scene would look like to them. Study each of the following artworks. Does the lanscape look like a place where a fairy or an ogre might live? What kind of story does the landscape inspire?
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As you plan your imaginary landscape, you need to ask yourself what you intend to convey. Do you want to express a mood or a feeling (like van Gogh and Dalí), or do you want simply to create a landscape that is fantastic and mythical? Look back at the artwork on this page and sketch your favorite one. Quickly jot down the things you like about it, including details that catch your eye so that you can incorporate them into your final work.
