Aaron Schuerr: Storytelling with Landscapes

Discover An Award-Winning’s Artist Approach That Transforms Ordinary Landscapes Into Inspiring Paintings That Capture the Soul of the Scene

Do you know the number one SIN in landscape painting?

It’s how artists unknowingly sabotage their own work by approaching their paint application tentatively instead of with confidence.

According to renowned artist Aaron Schuerr, one of the biggest issues is that most artists are approaching their paint application tentatively, holding back instead of painting with confidence.

But Aaron’s approach goes far deeper than just paint application.

While most artists get overwhelmed trying to include every detail from their photos, Aaron has developed a storytelling method that helps you decide what belongs in your painting’s narrative and what doesn’t.

“I think of every painting as a story. A good storyteller sheds extraneous details and homes in on the salient points. Put simply, if it doesn’t add to the story, it must go.” — Aaron Schuerr

This isn’t about painting what the camera sees. 

It’s about painting what your heart experienced.

The result? 

Landscapes that seem to glow from within, filled with the kind of emotional depth that makes viewers stop in their tracks and say…

…“I want to be there.”

Aaron’s revealing it all in his brand new course, Storytelling with Landscapes.

Inside, you'll discover:

• Aaron Schuerr’s storytelling approach to editing landscapes that helps you decide what adds to your painting’s narrative and what must go — creating clarity and interest instead of cluttered, confusing compositions…
• His transfer technique using tracing paper that “allows you to be more relaxed, confident and spontaneous during painting — opening you up for fun during the painting process”...
• How to “edit the landscape for clarity and interest” using a storyteller’s eye to eliminate everything that doesn’t serve your painting’s narrative…
• The “block in” method using “the biggest brush possible” and “plenty of paint” to create a foundation for confident mark-making…
• Why approaching your brushwork with intention rather than hesitation creates paintings that feel alive and purposeful instead of weak and tentative…
•  ...and so much more!’

When Aaron instructs, serious artists listen.

This is one for your library.

Ready to start creating your BEST painting yet?

Meet Your Instructor, Aaron Schuerr!

Aaron Schuerr is a passionate plein air artist who finds energy and inspiration in nature’s most challenging conditions. 

Whether he’s painting barefoot on the beach or knee-deep in snow, Aaron believes there are four seasons for plein air painting.

His dedication to capturing authentic outdoor experiences has earned him significant recognition in the art world. 

Aaron was awarded Best Pastel in the 2022 Plein Air Salon and was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show in 2021. 

He has also penned a cover article on the winter palette for PleinAir Magazine, sharing his expertise with artists nationwide.

What sets Aaron apart is his unique background that combines fine art with theatrical performance. 

Having acted in plays including Bertolt Brecht’s Life of Galileo, Aaron brings a storyteller’s perspective to his painting instruction. 

Just as he believes audiences should never forget they’re watching a play, Aaron wants viewers to never forget they’re looking at a painting — yet still feel transported to that magical place.

Aaron’s approach is refreshingly honest about the artistic journey. 

“The bad news,” he tells his students, “is that painting never gets easier.” But he explains this is actually part of what makes art wonderful — it brings you back to the easel to try again to say what you want to say.

Based in Livingston, Montana, Aaron has made it his mission to help artists move beyond mere description to true artistic expression. His students describe his work as “accurate, honest, and poetic” — a reflection of his commitment to sharing not just the look of a place, but the experience of being there.

This is your chance to learn from an artist who has mastered the art of capturing the soul of the places that bring him to life!

Here’s a small taste of what’s inside Storytelling with Landscapes:

• Avoid the “number one sin” and discover his confident brushwork approach that may help you create paintings that feel generous and alive rather than “scrubbed and tentative”...
• Discover Aaron’s storytelling approach to landscape editing, potentially transforming cluttered, confusing compositions into clear, compelling paintings that connect with viewers…
• Watch and learn Aaron’s “block-in” foundation method using “the biggest brush possible” and plenty of paint to create confident beginnings that may help you avoid tentative mark-making and establish strong compositional foundations from the start…
• Implement the “Linked Dark Shapes” principle that transforms scattered landscape elements into unified compositions by teaching you to see multiple trees as one powerful shape rather than competing individual elements…
• Follow Aaron’s “10% guideline” for pushing color and value decisions beyond your comfort zone — his approach designed to help transform tentative marks into brushwork that appears more confident and professional…
• Discover Aaron’s method for creating clear shapes and strong design that eliminates chaotic, scattered compositions — focusing on the essential elements that support your painting’s story…
• Master Aaron’s approach to brush handling and edge work that creates elegant, confident brushstrokes instead of tentative, overworked passages…
• Apply Aaron’s three-question framework when adding details to prevent overworking and keep paintings fresh by asking: “What are you looking at?” “What are you focused on?” “What is in your peripheral vision?”
• Understand Aaron’s philosophy of editing landscapes for clarity and interest — learning what to include and what to eliminate to strengthen your composition’s impact…
• Discover Aaron’s approach to achieving clear color relationships that prevent muddy, lifeless results — creating the kind of vibrant color harmony that makes landscapes glow…
• Watch and learn Aaron’s method for analyzing the scene effectively — understanding what’s useful and what’s misleading in your reference so you’re no longer trapped to paint everything you see…
• Apply Aaron’s technique for simplifying complex rugged, sparkling alpine landscapes while maintaining their essential character and emotional impact…
• Master Aaron’s approach to conveying textures without overdoing details — creating convincing surface qualities through confident paint application rather than tight rendering…
• PLUS: Understand Aaron’s guidance on knowing when a painting is “resolved” — his approach to making final refinement decisions that separate good paintings from great ones…
• …including tons more tips and tricks you won’t get anywhere else!

Chapter Outline:

Painting Demonstration, Part 1

Introduction

Materials

The Story

Transfer the Drawing

The Block-In

Set Up the Background and Pond

Set Up the Rocks

Painting Demonstration, Part 2

Develop the Trees

Develop the Foreground

Fresh Eyes

Strengthen the Rocks

Final Touches

EXTRAS:

High Speed View™

Exhibit of Works

Interview with the Artist by Eric Rhoads