What makes a Landscape Painting a Landscape

Exploring the blurred line between landscape and figurative art—using real examples from the Doyles Art Awards. Let’s unpack the controversy!

Figurative or Landscape? When Categories Get Complicated

Today’s topic is a juicy one—it’s about art competitions, and more specifically, the categories that can feel… well, a bit blurred. Especially when it comes to landscape versus figurative art.

I’m diving into two recent examples from the Doyles Art Awards here in Queensland—one that won the $20k Landscape Prize and one that came second. Both entries sparked conversations and questions:

How are these considered “landscapes”?
Should they be?
Where do we draw the line?

Let’s get into it.

🎨 What Are the Doyles?

I recently attended the Doyles Art Awards, named after the famous Australian painter Darcy Doyle, known for his nostalgic, representational landscapes. It’s one of Queensland’s largest art awards, with 500 artworks selected from over 1000 entries—a true feast for the eyes.

I was lucky enough to have two of my own pieces selected this year, and my beach scene even sold to Darcy Doyle’s niece and is now heading to Stradbroke Island—how cool is that?

One thing I appreciated? Full abstract paintings aren’t allowed. This award honors Doyle’s legacy of realistic, story-rich landscapes. So while many competitions lean abstract, the Doyles stick to representational work—you need to know what you’re looking at. And I love that.

🏆 The “Landscape” That Sparked Debate

Here’s where things got interesting...

🥇 First place in the Landscape category featured two large human figures on a beach.
🥈 Second place was essentially a still life scene, with potted plants on a window ledge and a glimpse of landscape in the background.

If you’re thinking, “Wait, how are those landscapes?”—you’re not alone.

Even attendees were asking, “Shouldn’t that be entered in the Figurative or Still Life category?” The answer?

“It’s up to the artist what they enter it under.”

Which raises even more questions—especially when you factor in the artist statements, which clearly influenced how these works were perceived by the judges.

🧭 What Counts as a Landscape?

Traditionally, a landscape painting depicts the land itself—natural scenery like mountains, coastlines, paddocks, forests. People can appear, sure, but they’re usually minor characters in the scene. Think of them as part of the narrative, not the focal point.

But that line is starting to blur...

🧍‍♀️ “Seaside Explorers” – Is It Really a Landscape?

Let’s look at the winner:
“Seaside Explorers” by Jane Allan

It’s a powerful palette knife painting showing two kids at the beach—one bending over, the other front and center. The figures dominate the canvas. If you blocked out the beach, you’d still have a striking piece. If you blocked out the figures? Not as compelling.

So, why was it considered a landscape?

Because of the artist’s intent.

Here’s what Jane said in her statement:

“Like so many Australians, my vivid childhood memories revolve around carefree summer holidays at the beach... This palette knife work ‘Seaside Explorers’ invites the viewer to reminisce about their own halcyon childhood memories in the landscapes that brought them joy.”

She’s arguing that the painting isn’t about the figures—it’s about the place. The beach isn’t the backdrop—it’s the story. The children are part of the landscape.

The event director, Sam Sinner, reinforced that by saying:

“Representational art is not only realism, but any art where you can understand the subject... Jane’s work conveys the essence and movement of an Australian beach scene.”

So in this case, it’s about emotion, experience, and memory tied to place.

Do I 100% agree? I’m still on the fence. But I respect the decision—and the conversation it’s sparked.

🌿 “Outside In” – Still Life or Landscape?

Now let’s look at the second-place winner, “Outside In.”

At first glance, it looks like a still life: objects on a windowsill—mugs, rocks, potted plants. But then you read the statement:

“We do not merely look at landscape; we live with it, collect it, bring it inside... A rock on a shelf, a plant cutting in a pot—these small acts of gathering reflect our impulse to connect, to hold onto the fleeting and the wild.”

So, again, the idea is that this isn’t just a still life. It’s a reflection on how we interact with the landscape. The shelf becomes a symbol. The window becomes a portal.

Philosophically, it’s about landscape. But visually? Not so much.

Still, the concept is compelling—and the artist statement reframes the work entirely.

🧠 So What Is a Landscape?

Let’s break it down:

Traditional landscape: The land is the main character.
Modern take: The idea of land, memory, or interaction with nature can define the piece.

So here’s the big question:

Should the artist’s intention and story be enough to define the category?

The answer seems to be shifting.

🤔 Is That Too Loose?

If “landscape” becomes so broad that it includes anything vaguely related to nature or memory, where do we draw the line?

What if I paint a dingo in the bush—is it a portrait or a landscape?
What if someone paints a room with a landscape painting hanging on the wall—does that count?

And in a comp where $20,000 is on the line, these lines do matter.

🖼️ But What Would Darcy Doyle Think?

Let’s not forget who this award honors: Darcy Doyle.

He painted kids playing footy, horses in paddocks, mums hanging laundry. There were always figures—but they supported the story of the land.

So maybe the judges saw Jane’s work as a modern echo of that tradition.

It’s looser, yes—but maybe it’s still grounded in the same principles: the land as the anchor.

🎯 What This Means for Us as Artists

Here’s what I think we can take away from all this:

Artist statements matter. They frame how your work is interpreted—especially if your subject matter straddles multiple genres.
Read the categories—but also read the judges. If a comp is known for embracing modern interpretations, you can take more creative risks.
Be intentional. Ask yourself: What is this really about? The figure, or the space they inhabit?

And finally...

Don’t just ask what’s in the painting. Ask what the painting is about.

That’s where the real magic happens—and where the best work often lives.

🗣️ Your Turn

I’d love to know:
What do YOU think defines a landscape painting today?
Is it the subject? The emotion? The story?

Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments—or head over to the Drawing Wildlife & Nature Facebook Group and share your thoughts.

Until next time—paint boldly, think deeply, and never stop questioning the “rules.”

Kerri x