Capturing Rhythm in Coastal Landscapes (Weekly Challenge #187)

This week, we’re heading south to the serene coastal townscapes of Lanzarote, one of the stunning Canary Islands. Known for its volcanic landscapes and distinctive architecture, Lanzarote offers a unique rhythm of its own — both in real life and visually through our reference photos. The peaceful harbor, moored boats, whitewashed buildings, and lines of palm trees all offer repeating shapes and spacing that echo the musicality of the land.

It’s a beautiful contrast to last week’s vibrant, landlocked architectural scenes in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany. From bold color accents to rhythm, the shift highlights how each compositional concept gives us a new lens to observe and express the world around us.

Focus Point: Rhythm

Rhythm is one of those compositional tools that can feel elusive until you see it and then it clicks. It’s about repetition, variation, and flow. Just like rhythm in music, visual rhythm creates a sense of beat and movement across the painting. It gives structure, keeps the viewer’s eye engaged, and brings unity to the piece.

In this week’s photo set, rhythm emerges naturally: the repeated forms of boats floating on water, vertical lines of palm trees along the promenade, and the echoing silhouettes of buildings and roofs. These elements create pulses of visual interest and make an excellent study for those who want to explore more abstract qualities in landscape composition.

If you want to dive deeper into the theory and practice of rhythm in landscape art, check my our dedicated post Rhythm in Landscape Composition – Creating Movement Through Repetition and Flow

Analyzing This Week’s Reference Photos

Now let’s dive into the reference photos of this week.

Photo 1: White Walls and Blue Boats

Bright white buildings reflect the sun, creating a luminous backdrop. The calm water carries multiple boats scattered at different distances, offering a sense of rhythm through repetition and spacing.

Week 187: Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo Credit:  @painted_by_natalia

Challenge: Use the repetition of boat shapes and their positions to guide the viewer’s eye across the scene without losing harmony.

Focus Questions:

• How does the repetition of similar shapes contribute to the visual rhythm?

• Can you vary size and spacing to suggest depth and motion?

• How will you treat the stark white of buildings without flattening them?

Tips:

• Alternate shapes and intervals to avoid static repetition.

• Use subtle color shifts to distinguish objects while keeping cohesion.

• Reflect sky tones in water to unify the palette.

Photo 2: Boats and Palm Trees

This peaceful harbor scene is defined by rows of palm trees lining the horizon and boats gently floating in rhythmic clusters across the water’s surface.

Week 187: Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo Credit:  @painted_by_natalia

Challenge: Convey rhythm through repetition of natural and man-made elements, creating a soothing yet structured feel.

Focus Questions:

• Do the boats feel like they’re moving, or at rest?

• How can you highlight the tree rhythm without making it too dominant?

• What tools (brushstroke, spacing) will help maintain visual interest?

Tips:

• Try dry brushing or soft transitions to evoke subtle movement in water.

• Offset palm trees with slight irregularities to avoid stiffness.

• Introduce tonal contrast in shadows for spatial clarity.

Photo 3: Calm Waterfront with Tower

A wide expanse of calm water reflects the surrounding white architecture and a single tower. The boats in the midground introduce rhythmic punctuation without crowding the space.

Week 187: Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo Credit:  @painted_by_natalia

Challenge: Maintain a peaceful atmosphere while using rhythm to guide the composition.

Focus Questions:

• Which boat or feature do you want to emphasize?

• How will you balance rhythm and stillness?

• What role does negative space play here?

Tips:

• Keep color minimal and tonal values soft to preserve calm.

• Use repetition of shape rather than strong contrast for rhythm.

• Let reflections echo rhythm subtly, without mirroring exactly.

Photo 4: Layered Boats and Modern Backdrop

A more structured backdrop of modern buildings contrasts with layered clusters of boats in the foreground. The staggered arrangement forms a rhythmic grid on water.

Week 187: Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain. Photo Credit:  @painted_by_natalia

Challenge: Explore how rhythm interacts with architectural lines and foreground detail.

Focus Questions:

• How will you direct the viewer’s attention amidst many small shapes?

• Could rhythm help balance detail-heavy and clean areas?

• How does the background architecture influence your painting mood?

Tips:

• Vary boat angles to create visual interest.

• Use warm vs cool grays to separate planes without over-detailing.

• Echo the building lines subtly in water textures to unify the space.

---

Rhythm might not be the most obvious compositional element, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it — and your landscapes will benefit greatly from its power. We can’t wait to see how you use rhythm to lead the eye, unify your scene, or add dynamic energy.

Join us this week and let the rhythm of Lanzarote guide your brush. Post your artwork by 13 November using the hashtag #LandscapeArtClub187 and tag @landscapeartclub on Instagram to participate.

Let’s keep painting, keep learning — and keep finding joy in rhythm!