Another really informative guide: http://www.guidetooilpainting.com/shadows.html
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 8:19 am
I found this excellent video:
Crystal1
Posts : 639 Join date : 2010-02-05 Location : Ft Worth, TX
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 1:37 pm
I didn't have time to read all the information on shadows today, but I did watch the video. Wow, that was really good information. I especially liked the part on portrait shadows and what to look for. Thanks a lot, Janet.
Dayle
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 2:50 pm
You're welcome Dayle! I'm glad you liked it.
Callie Moderator
Posts : 1233 Join date : 2009-11-21 Location : St. Louis, MO USA
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 7:23 pm
I was too busy looking for the Art Hist. Myst. Challenge, so I'm just getting around to checking this out. Will have a look in a little bit. In the meantime - I usually work dark to light and keep the darks quite thin until most everything is in place. Then I can adjust the shadows - darker in some areas, more color if needed, and soften edges as they recede - whatever might need tweaking.
Will go have a look.....
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 7:37 pm
Callie do you use complementary colors to create your darks or black or grays? Do you follow that whole warm light = cool shadow and cool shadow = warm light?
Callie Moderator
Posts : 1233 Join date : 2009-11-21 Location : St. Louis, MO USA
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 8:10 pm
The anticz article was a good read. He hit on one of my pet-peeves:
The biggest problem most people have is that they don’t paint in light and dark. They muddie up pictures in the middle value range, not giving the image any dynamic lighting or depth in the object. Just a lot of pretty cartoon colored objects. Most prime time cartoons work in this pallete, with no significant shadows or lighting.
Paintings that hang out in the middle range look flat and unfinished to me. I prefer more "drama" - strong contrasts and deep shadows that make the highlights really pop.
Callie Moderator
Posts : 1233 Join date : 2009-11-21 Location : St. Louis, MO USA
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Tue May 11, 2010 8:45 pm
I've never bothered with that cool/warm - warm/cool shadow "rule". Especially when painting outdoors. The sunlight (on a clear day) usually doesn't read one way or the other to me, I just try to go for what I actually see. Painting from photos is a bit different since the shadow areas can be rather flat. I always mix colors rather than use a single color for shadows and dark areas. Just whatever I think works well for the subject, no rules or recipes!
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Wed May 12, 2010 7:19 am
Thank you Callie for sharing your process dealing with shadow and light!
Dana C
Posts : 379 Join date : 2010-06-02 Location : Seattle/Snohomish, WA
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Sat Jun 05, 2010 12:58 pm
The video on shadowing was very helpful with the cast shadows, bounce shadows -- that information was great, as I have never been taught about painting, I only have painted by sight/observing and loved learning about shadowing -- Thank you Janet for getting that information for us.
judyfilarecki Moderator
Posts : 2685 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Northern NY and Southern Arizona
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:55 pm
Thanks for all the great information. I'm just getting caught up on it since it was originally posted the day I started my cross country trip.
Judy
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Mon Jun 07, 2010 7:32 am
You're welcome Dana! I was really excited when I found that video. It seemed like an easy way to understand Light and Shadow.
You're welcome Judy!
judyfilarecki Moderator
Posts : 2685 Join date : 2009-11-16 Location : Northern NY and Southern Arizona
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Mon Jun 07, 2010 11:04 am
Great video Janet. I just got a chance to watch it. Thanks, Judy
Dale
Posts : 573 Join date : 2009-11-17 Location : Near Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:21 pm
One thing that I found made a difference is pulling in colors from the rest of the painting but in the same tone whether it is light or shadow. It allows for a more harmonious painting.
Janet Moderator
Posts : 2050 Join date : 2009-11-15 Location : North Bay, Ontario Canada
Subject: Re: Shadow and light Mon Jun 07, 2010 5:56 pm