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an online course with luis colan
The Open Landscape:
Atmosphere and light with ballpoint pen
Follow me as I build one complete landscape drawing, from the first line to the finishing touches. Learn to create light, depth and a full range of tone with a simple ballpoint pen with more than 24 video lessons and 8+ hours of content.
Start LEARNING todaydoes this sound familiar?
You love the look of it. You just don't know where to begin.
Maybe you've saved dozens of ink drawings, bought a good pen, and still haven't started. You're not alone. These are the three things Luis hears most from people who want to draw landscapes with a pen.
01
"I don't know where to begin."
You start with a pen, a sheet of paper and a few warm-up exercises. Every stage after that is shown in order, so you always know the next step.
02
"I'm afraid of making mistakes."
Ballpoint can't be erased, and that's the point. You'll learn to work light and build in layers, so early marks become part of the drawing instead of something to fix.
03
"I don't think I'm talented enough."
Drawing light and atmosphere is a way of seeing, and seeing can be learned. The course breaks it into simple steps anyone can practice.
From the studio
Some of my drawings and monotypes
Hi, I'm Luis Colan
painter, draftsman and printmaker.
I've been painting, drawing and printmaking for more than two decades. I trained at the Hartford Art School and continued my studies at the Art Students League and the Teaching Studios of Art in Brooklyn.
My landscape practice has taken me from plein air trips in Tuscany, France and New England to working from memory and imagination in my New York studio. Through all of it, drawing has stayed at the center, and pen and ink became my way of exploring atmosphere and light.
My ballpoint drawings have built an audience of 190K followers on Instagram, and the question I hear most is simple: how do you do it? This course is my answer, taught in more depth than I've ever shared before.
why it feels so hard?
Copying every leaf is what makes it overwhelming
Most people start by copying exactly what they see, one detail at a time. The drawing gets darker and heavier, the light disappears, and a landscape that felt open ends up flat. After a few attempts like that, it's easy to decide you just aren't talented enough.
The usual way
- Copy every detail, one leaf at a time
- Press hard and go dark too early
- Fill every part of the page
- Start over when something goes wrong
The open way
- See the big shapes first
- Work light and build in passes
- Leave room for light and air
- Fold every mark into the drawing
"without a way to simplify, every new subject feels overwhelming all over again. the answer isn't more talent, it's a different way of seeing."
WHAT YOU'LL UNLOCK THROUGH THE COURSE:
01
See light and atmosphere
Read a landscape for light, distance and air, and translate it into ink by keeping the drawing open where the light falls.
02
Build depth with line
Layer tone, hatching and varied line work in patient passes to build texture, depth and a full value range.
03
Draw any subject your way
Leave with a flexible framework, not a formula, that you can bring to still lifes, architecture, portraits and your own ideas.
Course content
one landscape drawing, built from start to finish
Across 8 modules and 24 video lessons, I'll take you through a single landscape drawing from the very first line to the final touch. That's about 8 hours of me drawing and explaining each stage as I go.
We'll start with materials and a few warm-up exercises. Then I'll show you how I compose and simplify a scene, block it in, build texture and depth, and bring in light and atmosphere until the drawing is complete.
In my course you will learn
Introduction
Meet Luis, see some of his work, and find out what you'll take away by the end.
Show 3 lessons
- 1.1Welcome to the Course
- 1.2Who Am I
- 1.3Course Overview
Materials
What sets the ballpoint apart from other pens, and how different papers affect a drawing.
Show 3 lessons
- 2.1The Ballpoint Pen
- 2.2Paper
- 2.3Other Useful Tools (Optional)
Pen Exercises
Warm-ups to get familiar with the flow of ink and your own pressure.
Show 3 lessons
- 3.1Pen Handling and Gestural Lines
- 3.2Grey Scale Exercise
- 3.3Sphere (Light and Shade) Exercise
Composition
Compose a landscape and learn to see it in simple, abstract shapes.
Show 4 lessons
- 4.1Composition: The Rule of Thirds
- 4.2Thinking Abstractly: Slideshow
- 4.3Thinking Abstractly: Fast Sketch
- 4.4Open Drawing: Idea and Practice
The Block-In: Beginning Stages
The first stages of the drawing, laying down the initial compositional lines.
Show 1 lesson
- 5.1Blocking In
Building Texture and Depth
After the block-in, the fun begins: layering passes to create texture and depth.
Show 4 lessons
- 6.1Laying Down Tone
- 6.2Different Line Work to Create Texture
- 6.3Incorporating the Two
- 6.4Tree Bark Textures
Thinking of Light and Atmosphere
The drawing takes shape. Learn to keep it open and keep working light.
Show 3 lessons
- 7.1How to Create Atmosphere and Light
- 7.2Continue Building the Drawing
- 7.3Building Up Shadows
Finishing Touches
Bring the drawing to completion with the final passes and details, and close the course.
Show 3 lessons
- 8.1Continue Drawing Until Finished
- 8.2Finishing Touches on the Drawing
- 8.3Closing Statement
Course structure
Inside The Open Landscape, I want you to feel as though you're sitting at my drawing table, pen in hand, working alongside me.
Across 24 video lessons and more than 8 hours of content, I'll guide you through my process as I build one complete landscape drawing, from the first line to the finishing touches. Along the way you'll learn how to create light, depth and a full range of tone with nothing more than a ballpoint pen. The lessons are visual and practical. You'll see the references I work from, watch every stage of the drawing in real time, and pause whenever you want to try the marks yourself.
Because the course is completely self-paced, you can move through it in a way that suits your own practice, revisiting a lesson or spending more time where you need it most. You can also comment and compare your work with other students under each video or in the group.
Take your time. Experiment. Look closely. The goal isn't to rush, but to understand more deeply what happens along the way.
Included in my course
I'll show you how to start any drawing with just a pen and a blank page.
Start the courseConfidence with every mark
Stop worrying about mistakes. I'll show you how I plan, layer and adjust as I go.
Light from a simple pen
I'll teach you to create atmosphere, depth and a full tonal range with nothing more than a ballpoint.
A method for any subject
Take the way of seeing I use to landscapes, still lifes, architecture and portraits.
A finished drawing
Complete a full landscape alongside me, from the first line to the final touch.
Learn at your own pace
Pause, rewatch and come back to any of my lessons whenever you want to practice.
Dedicated support along the way
Share your progress and questions with me and fellow students in the private Facebook community.
3 bonuses included
extras that come with your enrollment
Alongside the 24 video lessons, you get extras to keep you practicing. Choose a bonus to see what it includes.Tap a bonus to see what it includes.
bonus 1 of 3
Drawing process crash course (PDF)
A 3 to 4 page PDF that walks through my drawing process in images and short explanations, so you can review the key steps at a glance.
Value: $27 Free
bonus 2 of 3
Ballpoint pen mark-making & texture guide
A guide to the marks and textures I make with a ballpoint pen, to keep beside you while you draw.
Value: $47 Free
bonus 3 of 3
Printable practice exercises & drawing prompts
Printable exercises and drawing prompts to keep you practicing between lessons.
Value: $27 Free
REGISTRATIONS ARE CLOSING SOON!
Learn Ballpoint pen drawing with me!
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The Open Landscape
Atmosphere and light with ballpoint pen
TWO OPTIONS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS
Here you can find two options that only differ in how you want to pay. The first option is a one-time payment and the second is a monthly plan with three payments. The price displayed below is in US Dollars, but you can pay with ANY currency.
In both cases, you will have immediate access to the course!
Start learning today! :)
my promise to you
My guarantee to every student
If you're not satisfied with the course for any reason, you can get a full refund within the first 30 days. This is my guarantee to you: I want every student to be satisfied. It also means there's no risk at all! Give it a try and experience the course first-hand!
Frequently asked questions
everything you need to know before you begin
Is the course live?
This is a self-paced course. This means the content is made of pre-recorded videos you can watch whenever you want, at your speed.
Learning with an on-demand course, you can pause and practice while drawing. And you can always return to your favorite subjects or to the most challenging techniques until you master them!
Can I buy the course as a gift to someone?
YES, absolutely! For this option, you need to choose the one-time payment. You will be able to set up a gift at checkout, with the possibility to send it on a specific day with a personalized message to the recipient.
Will I have access to the course right away?
YES! You will get access to the whole course and all the materials immediately.
Can I pay with any currency?
Yes! The system will automatically convert your local currency into US Dollars at the exchange rate of the day you purchase.
Are registrations opening again soon?
No, they will be closed indefinitely. You have to enroll by Sunday, October 25th at 9 PM EDT. Don't miss out on this opportunity!
What are the payment methods?
You can pay with any credit or debit card enabled for online payments (for example: Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, JCB, Discover, Diners Club, Union Pay). You can also pay with PayPal, Google Pay and Apple Pay.
Why should I start this journey with you?
I am a self-taught artist who is passionate about drawing, painting, and art. I've dedicated countless hours to my training to become an artist. Whether you are becoming an artist yourself or developing a new skill and a new hobby, I know how to guide you to acquire solid results. You will be proud of your new gift.
For how long will I have access to the course?
The course will be yours FOREVER! You can watch the videos as many times as you want and for all the time you want! You won't have to pay any recurring payment after you purchase the course.
Do you have a refund policy?
The course purchase comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. No questions asked. ballpoint pen drawing should be entertaining and relaxing, and that's my top priority.
Is the price just a one-time payment?
If you select the one-time payment option, YES! You will have to pay just one time, and you will get access to the course and all materials forever.
If you select the 3 monthly payments plan, you will be billed the first payment at the moment of the purchase. The second 30 days after, and the third and final one after 60 days of the initial purchase.
In both cases, you will receive full access to the course immediately.
