Finding the Color in the Shadows.
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- Опубликовано: 15 ноя 2021
- If you go outdoors and look at shadows you'll see they are filled with color. Specific color. They are not just dull over-dark neutrals. In this video I'll show you how to see and paint more vibrant and engaging shadows in your paintings.
Mark your calendars! Next Live RUclips class is Saturday, December 11th.
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That’s the gift given to us artists…not necessarily the painting outcome, but the ability to see color and appreciate the beauty that color and subtlety all around us. Not a profound thing to say, but it is a profound thing to experience…a gift. Thanks, Ian!
I concur wholeheartedly!
beautiful comment
I really agree with you Harriet. We put such pressure on ourselves to make paintings work and we're so invested in the outcome we forget the thing that perhaps drew us to the thing in the first place. A gift as you say. Thanks for that. Always a good reminder.
Yes it was.
Your painting really made your point. We are hugely benefitting from your generosity. Thank you Ian.
So nice of you to say. Thank you Priscilla!
Well, I just bought Ian's book, so I think I deserve to benefit from his videos, LOL. Thanks Ian! By the way, my paintings are terrible, but I hope you help me to improve.
I wouldn't buy a new camera specifically to take reference photos for painting when the cameras on the newer phones are so sophisticated and you always have one in your pocket. There are also some great apps for manipulating the images to open up shadows, increase contrast and saturation etc. As a professional artist and photographer I would have cringed at this comment 10 years ago.
I agree - I'm thrilled at what I can do with my iPhone.
I’m trying to figure out what apps work to get grids and manipulate photos. I have added griddled and procreate but one is too simple, the other too complicated. Any suggestions?
I have heard and have yet to check out grid painter and the grid planning tool by Art Tool. That is just gridding. Simple. My wife, Anne Ward, actually has a course on painting with an iPad using procreate but just using a few brushes and keeping it really simple. And you can adjust photos really easily with it by just using a brush and painting over the photo. Procreate has a ton of features but you can just use a couple to do what you're thinking I think.
Great painting illustrating your points on color. Thanks!
I have several top quality digital SLR cameras, even with wi-fi downloading. However, I got an iPhone 11 Pro Max to be my primary camera, not in place of my other cell phone. The three lenses are very good. Love those editing tools. About creating a grid, I have used apps, but find creating a screen shot of my high res photo, to be a “working copy” with cropping, edits, and making my own grid using Markup (... found in the Edit mode). There is the flexibility of line thickness, and line color.
It is so easy to send to other devices, to share, and store in albums on the phone and cloud.
Instead of purse & camera bag, I have simplified & lessened my load to the phone in a strong case, with a pocket adhered to the case for license or credit card. The phone and keys are all I need.
I send a print order to the nearby drug store photo center for 8x10 print of reference photo, and the grid photo. I find it easier than dealing with iffy ink supply of my own printer.
Love your videos!
I don't know if most people have the new phones bacause, sheeesh they are expensive
As always, very helpful, even though I paint in watercolor. I’m recovering from knee surgery and have found that painting has been a sanity preserver! No sun on the west coast (PNW), but the minute the sun comes out, I will look for shadow color!
Hi Leila, hope the knee heals soon. And unlike LA I can imagine there are days where it is hard to find shadows. All the best. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Thank you Ian. As you probably know, there are a lot of painters on RUclips. Your instruction makes sense to me. I enjoy your videos a great deal. You take the intimidation factor out of learning to paint.
That makes me very happy to hear. Thank you for saying that Barbara. All the best
This video blew my mind. I wasn't really sold on it until the lit rock was painted and then I was truly amazed.
There were two main take-aways from today’s demonstration about color in shadows, and, last week’s video, taking pictures for painting references…..a ‘light bulb’ illuminating moment, though both concepts are rather simple and intuitive, upon reflection.
The first insight. As I thought about the pictures you were taking and the references you selected to sketch, and perhaps, to paint, it struck me once again how ordinary and unspectacular your subjects that you paint. Yet, the completed painting from those references is anything but ordinary……. And, it dawned on me….the reason they result in a well-composed and well-executed painting is because you are painting what attracts and interests you. It matters not the relevance to anyone else, but only to you, the artist! Paint what speaks to you! As a result, we see through your eyes, the artist, the ‘story’ you wish to communicate…….what it is that inspired or appealed to you. Careful forethought in design, structure, technique, et cetera, will convey to the viewer your message and intent.
The second realization……determining the colors in shadows is all relative. What do I mean by this…….I always had the understanding that shadows were cool and what was not in shadow was warm. But, for example, as you demonstrated with your cliff faces, they were a warm shadow, somewhat neutralized by their complementary color (green, red). What determined whether they felt cool or warm, however, was not solely the result of the hue used, but by what color was placed next to another, it’s value and edge. In essence, you looked at the local color and determined to what degree other colors would be seen and their color shift……..If it was a red hue, you shifted that color, not necessarily the value, by using green, keeping it dark, yet the underlying hue of warm red was still evident. This created a shadow that was not harsh, or a sharp contrast unlike what would occur if you used a black. And the harmonious color was more pleasing and interesting! I was struck by how similar the fundamental concepts of painting shadow relate to painting sunshine: value, contrast, color temperature…..
It is so enjoyable to see how each video builds upon the next……”part to whole,” as you stated. Thank you for your instruction!
Also, I am very interested in your upcoming video, discussing plein air materials, especially palettes and easels.
HI Ann Marie, thanks so much for your thoughtful comments. I really like the idea in your first comment. I hear, as you point out, all the time, such an ordinary photo but you make it look good. And you're right I think. I can see something that attracts me and if I get that on canvas then the viewer now sees it too. It wasn't in the photo. But the seed idea was. It's a good point. And good points on the color of shadow as well. Makes me happy, two insights in a week! Plein air materials coming up in 2 weeks. All the best.
Hey, Ian, I discovered you and your videos by chance on youTube. I am on older woman who returned to painting after having raised 4 kids. I live in Israel and I really don't know any fellow painters around me ,so demos and online instruction are like a lifeline for me. I am GREATLY appreciating your excellent and clear instruction and your sincere and unpretentious manner.I love the way you paint too. Thank you VERY much and give your wife a warm thank you as well!
Great videeo! One trick I sometimes use to find colours in a scene (I discovered this accidentally as a kid) is to stand with my back to the view and then put my head between my legs and view it that way. Basically I'm viewing the scene up side down, and because it doesn't make a great deal of sense to my brain, it's a mass of beautiful colours that I don't normally see. I'll try this technique next time I go out on a sunny day to look at shadows! Thanks as always Ian. :-)
I am trying to imagine myself doing this without falling over from laughing. But a great, great idea I will try
YES!!! reminds me of the book DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN!!!
My old dad said you can judge distance better by viewing it upside down this way.
Like to see that
I’m going to try and remember to have a go at that 😹
Ian, that was great. In the beginning I thought, umm, the shadow colors he's mixing aren't blue enough or grey enough or dark enough (in my mind I'm thinking how I would have mixed them) but wow, it was spot on. So, I learned how to look more closely at what I'm actually SEEING. Lovely painting too. Thank you for great instruction, it's much appreciated. BTW, really looking forward to the plein air video.
Thank you for sharing that! Funny, I wonder how many other people had that thought while watching it. Delighted you liked it and got something out of it. See you for the plein air video!
Thank you. I have been painting the shadows way too dark, and lost all the details. Now I will try to add some colors in the shadows.
It's becoming clearer the shadows and highlights of scenes. I think I now can paint something this way...Ian you're explanations and calm help drive me to my goals...Thank you so very much.
You are most welcome Rosee. All the best.
I would have looked at this photo and discarded it. You looked at the photo, and immediately could take a great leap forward to imagine a path to a very handsome painting by
1) lightening the shadowed foreground (which defies intuition, since we are often reminded to increase value contrast)
2) saturating all that is in sunlight
3) having an idea what colors would work, especially in the shadows. The colors painted in the shadows differ from those in the photo
So what might be a path to learning to recognize useful insights such as 1), 2) and 3) when looking at other photos?
Maybe some questions to ask ?
I would love to know the same. Was thinking the big flat plane in the shadow was darker and bluer than what he painted, but it all worked beautifully.
Hi Michael, that is a really good assessment of the process I went through. First I think I see the hidden gem because I respond to its design driven potential. The underlying structure and the value masses. I just wrote a long winded answer to 1 and realized your questions are good and maybe I can talk about them on a video one time rather than type away here. Thank you.
HI Lisa, I thought Michael's assessment was good and I'll talk about it in a video one week. All the best.
Thank you so much. I really appreciate the calm way you present your videos.
Love your work and your comments that are so meaningful on every aspect of the painting!
You continue to amaze me with your artistic gifts as well as your gentle and humble manner in which you offer your knowledge and experience. Thank you so so much.
Catching up on your videos full of great information and instructions. Thank you for your generosity.
Really helpful and wonderful as always Ian! As one 1952 person to another, just break down and update your phone. Honestly, the camera is terrific!
Hi Diana, OK OK, I was checking out the iPhone 13 last night. I think as you suggest most of my problem is that 1952 thing. Nice to hear from you. All the best.
Love your videos. Even great for a rewatch!!❤️👍🏻
Love your demos Ian. Keep going with it
Brilliant and gives a lot of clarity..
Wow thank you. I loved your book Mastering Composition; a great addition to my library which I recommend to everyone. I'm really enjoying your RUclips workshops.
As a photographer and a painter, I’ll tell you fujifilm makes great cameras.
So glad I found you on here.
I've only watched 3 videos, about 15-20 mins. And... Ty!
Already I'm feeling excited to implement your ideas. Ty again.
Love your teachings. Thank you so much. 👏👏❤️
Thank you for the on point tips!
Love this info plus your talent is amazing
Gorgeous! Thank you so much for showing how to deal with shades and colours! Great hints!
You are so welcome Selma.
There are many colors in shadows; but very similar in value. Thanks Ian!
This was a spectacular video! Thank you!
Thank you so much for this channel, Ian, I am putting your advice into practice and I plan to practice on composition much more than I have done so far.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!
Just crazy good! Thank you for showing and explaining all the stages.
Thank you Sally! Delighted you enjoyed it. All the best
Awesome.
Thank you so much for this fantastic lesson! It was an “AHA” moment for me! I love and appreciate your videos so much! I can’t thank you enough! I look forward to seeing you on Tuesdays! 😍
You are so welcome!
You have really targetted what is such an overlooked problem for us aspiring painters, Ian. Brilliant tutorial! ☺☺☺
Thank you!
Perfect timing. I've been studying and painting (in WC) an image of an autumn maple leaf from a photo I recently took - noticing all the warm orange and burgundy colors bouncing off the leaf and residing in the shadows.
Well said. You are already starting to notice color that really enhances a shadow. All the best
Excellent video. And MANY TO LOOK FORWARD TO!! Thanks
Thank you so much! All the best
To watch each of your videos is a real cultural and artistic pleasure. As every time, at the end a wonderful painting appears. With your clear and precise explanations, I understand my difficulties and failures and I progress. I hope one day to reach your mastery... but, I chose the longer way with watercolor.
Thank you very much for your generosity.
This video was worth the wait! I always look forward to Tuesday.
As always, a beautiful painting, composition, color and brilliant discussion. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much, Ian. As it is I find shadows very challenging and you gave a wonderful demonstration here. I mainly use watercolours and constantly have to guard against making my colors muddy. Thanks again.
Your video are excellent. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It's very helpful.
Thank you , great lesson again and thanks in advance for the watercolor lesson ahead. Have a nice week!
Thank you! You too!
TUESDAY MORNINGS with IAN!!!! gets my creative juices flowing for the week....and painting outdoors again!!
That sounds wonderful. I hope this helps you as you step outdoors. All the best
Amazing. Thank you.
Perfect, just what I needed to see about painting shadows. Really like your painting too!
Cheers -Greg
Thank you Greg!
I actually love that hit of warm light on the rocks on the left! Serves so well to contextualise the shadows of the foreground in my eyes. 👍
Thank you. Well said. Glad you liked it
You are a gifted teacher !
Thank you Diana!
Excellent demonstration! Greatly appreciate you.
Glad it was helpful!
Your live stream was wonderful and I'm happy to hear that you'll do it again. I love how you made the lit areas at the background pop simply by lowering the values of the shaded areas. Making a warm colored shadow area (like the red-orange plants in your painting) is difficult for me. I see that you actually adjusted the values of the shadow areas up a bit compared to the photo. Brilliant! Thank you so much for showing this painting.
HI Sharon, delighted you enjoyed the video and livestream. I think plein air painting helps a lot in figuring out color in the studio. Even if the painting doesn't turn out that well, just trying to find colors that your eye is actually seeing rather than what the camera finds.
Wonderful video! Thank you!
Thank You from Brazil!
Simply beautiful. I’m learning a lot from your demos. Thanks Ian. Looking forward to next week
Glad to hear it!
best demonstration, love the way you have painted a big space in the foreground, love the way you conntrol that, excellent
Thank you very much!
Super job, I have a Cliff and River scene I have really been struggling with and you have given me an entirely new take on where to go next. Thanks
That is wonderful. I hope it goes well and good luck. All the best
Wonderful
Thank you, Ian! Shadow color is mother of all questions.
Very true! Thanks for watching
I’m late to the table and really enjoy your videos. I started in oils and am learning watercolor and all your videos are applicable. I’m also a photographer. For easy carry check out the Sony cyber-shot rx100 VII and with a 24-200mm lens you can’t go wrong. It’s a dream camera and can be in your pocket, pull it out and you can grab some great shots. There are many used models on B&H, you don’t have to buy new ones. Thanks for the great videos.
Thanks Ian, really enjoyed the concept of the darks in shadows, from NZ
Great! Thank You!
Brilliant video, certainly makes you think more. 👍
Glad you think so!
Thank you, Ian, for sharing your talent with us. I'm spending a lot of time on structure rather than starting a painting haphazardly. I tend to be too much of a perfectionist at times so am now looking for a happy medium so I can get started again. The method of thirds helps to not feel so overwhelmed. Your videos are so informative!!
You are very welcome! I hope you are enjoying the process. And make sure to have fun. All the best
I would have never recognized the colors you added to the shadows. Time to practice. Thank you for your dedication to open our eyes and not only inspiring to get better but showing the way. I am looking forward to see more...
You are so welcome!
So so amazing! Its years and years of training
Excellent tutorial!
Wonderful lesson on shadows! Even tho there is color in them you still can tell what is in the shade. Thank you for so generously sharing your knowledge and expertise.
You are so welcome Deborah.
This was terrific. Thank you!
You're so welcome!
I loved this episode on shadows. I am always amazed how you take a complex image and simplify into shapes and then the painting appears. I know... squint on the subject, but training myself is difficult. I always get caught up in the darn details.
I look forward to Tuesdays and my lesson from you. Hope to attend the live session, but happy I can catch it after the fact.
Delighted you are enjoying the videos Margo.
Talking about the warm and cool colors as you painted the shadows was very helpful!
I'm so glad. Thank you Andrea
The Tuesday films are always treats to look forward to! When i saw your photo, I could identify the five areas but to a certain extent I was foxed by the local colour. The area in shadow, I identified as more of a blue and cool grey and had I been painting, the further headland would have been more blue to give a sense of distance. It was a surprise to see you complete the headland with strong local colour and the foreground in shadow in warm neutrals tones. The result was a very pleasant surprise which works so well. Sometimes were use too much blue as well as resorting to black! Also the red of the ice plants on the nearer cliff helps to warm up the foreground. This is a lesson in not painting by formula but responding with a trained eye! Many thanks!
HI Ian, I really think you hit it on the head. You can here all kinds of ideas about color, say cooler as it recedes, which is true. But there are so many ways to play with these ideas in practice. And even if they seem to break one set of rules they obviously must play into another set because it still works. You've a good analysis of your thinking process here.
Great tips and stunning demonstration as always, thank you Ian Roberts.
I just painted a similar scene today, from a photo of Lulworth Cove in the UK. It was a sketch painting in watercolour, so now with your tips here I will have a go at a full size painting in watercolour- but using denser pigmentation as you suggested in a previous comment. It's a bit daunting to be honest, but hey, life is short, gotta go for it!
That's it Mark. Gotta go for it. But you can build up the darks. But do get good contrasts. Bold. Have fun.
Thank you! Wonderful information
Glad it was helpful!
Really like your ideas I don’t always see how I can apply these but enjoy your videos
Glad you like them.
Hi Ian excellent instruction and a beautiful painting , also enjoyed the live stream and the 20 min. 4 principles video. Thank you for your hard work and creativity Craig
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching Craig
Great lesson Ian. Thanks for telling your plan for next few weeks. Looking forward to your watercolor demo. I'll be there Dec 11. Loved the live stream. Glad you are teaching so many. Thank you. 🙏☺👏
Thank you so much. Yes, I am very excited for another livestream. See you there! All the best
Again thankyou ,I will be amazing soon !!!!!!!
That's great Reza. Good luck
Great demonstration on shadows, useful info here! Thanks. Dec 11th is marked on my calendar for the next Live, enjoyed your first one so much. Thanks for all you do for us.
Awesome! Thank you! See you on Dec 11th.
Very informative Ian! Thanks a lot. Painting shadows is always a challenge and the insights you provide here will surely help me a lot.
Glad it was helpful Sophie
That is amazing. Your videos are inspirational. Especially for me as an aspiring artist.
Happy to hear that. Thanks so much Matthew.
I love watching you paint. The painting came out really nice and showed the shadow illustration very well. Thank you, Ian. Take care. g
Thank you so much Gayle! Take care and all the best
These are a fantastic resource for a novice - msny thanks Ian. The fact that shadows are colours in themselves was a lightbulb moment for me !
Such a great informative video- thanks so much for sharing your great knowledge and talent with us all!
Thank you so much for watching Maryann!
Great artist!! Beautiful painting!! Thank for sharing.
Thanks so much.
Superb demonstration Ian, so interesting, I liked very much. Thank you!
Great. Glad you liked it. Thanks Ana
A lovely lesson! Shadows are so difficult.
Thank you very much🌹
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you 😊
That was just fantastically done color shadows, so interesting.
Thank you so much Colette
Great lesson again, thank you
Glad you liked it!
Yea, Watercolor Demo!!!!!!!! By the way this video on shadows was great!
Thanks so much Sally.
Great demo that makes your point very clearly! 🙂
Glad it was helpful!
So glad you are going to do a watercolor demo. Would appreciate a watercolor demo once a month. Thanks again for your inspiring videos.
Thanks Kathy. Watercolor demo coming up.
Another brilliantly helpful and generous video, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! You are so welcome Rachel
Can’t wait to see you paint a watercolor!!
Very soon! Thanks Kathleen
I loved the painting more than the photo ☺️ and the process of creating the effect of light shining on the rock against the shadows was absolutely delightful!
Thank you so much Shraddha!
Thank you...so helpful!!!!
Glad it was helpful Karen.
Thank you for this demo. Very helpful for those large areas in shadow. Im also very excited about the plein air video coming up! I really want to try it but don’t know what gremlins to watch out for. Thank you for being so generous with your knowledge.
You are so welcome! I am looking forward to the plein air video too. "Gremlins" - funny. All the best
Thanks, this was great, going to start really looking at those shadows! Sorry I had to miss the live, but hopefully will be able to catch the next!
No problem at all Candi. You can watch the recording of it on my RUclips channel too. I was pleased to find out that the recording still shows all the comments of the viewers too! My next live show is Dec 11th. Hope to see you there
Wow, beautiful shadows, great lesson, now no need to be afraid of darkness (shadows)
Yes! Thank you!
Well done, sir. I enjoyed it.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Really enjoy your videos!
Thank you so much David!
Thank you so much. It helped me lot
Glad to hear that. Thank you Ramesh!