How to Paint White: Painting Snow, Clouds and Highlights.
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- How to paint white... What does that mean?
It means how to paint snow, how to paint clouds, how to paint highlights, and more.
I do talk about painting snow but most of this video is actually about how to paint a highlight on a white bowl. But the ideas apply to snow as well.
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I'm a sound engineer, and this analog of dynamic range is the same concept. How would this compare? Well we always say it's better to cut than to boost. You need more midtone on something? Rather, cut the hi's and lo's a bit; it's always cleaner this way.
Man, do I ever know what you mean. Our guitar player always dials in such a fat bottom end that I as the bass player don't have a chance to cut through. So I decided to go heavy on the midrange and stay away from the bottom end to keep the music from getting too muddy, and especially - too loud. That seems to work pretty good...
Hi I am an artist from Pakistan, golden rule is another way to compose & achieve harmony in music and visual both.. old masters Michael angel Leonardo da Vinci Beethoven all they used this.🌼🌼
I imagine most things are like that aren't they. Like the goldie locks principle. Not to this, not to that, just right. All the best.
Can't you just adjust his amp when he's not looking?
Yes Kashan, it's a good principle All the best.
Mr. Roberts, I have been watching a bunch of your videos and I think you are a very good at teaching. Thank you for your generosity by making these videos.
You are very welcome
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Thank you. Hope your new explorations in painting are doing well and bringing you challenge and beautiful solutions.
God bless you and your wife with much health and guidance, Mr. Roberts.
Makes me think of looking at a series of Albert Bierstadt paintings and realizing that the reason they were so bright, even though so much was dark, was the relationships of values that he used. Great stuff.
That's it exactly.
Love your channel, sir. My painting instantly improves after watching your videos.
Wonderful demonstration! Thank you !
Online courses coming? YAY !!! Thank you for today's valuable demonstration!
You are so welcome Rita! Yes, I will provide more information in the next few weeks
Thanks, Ian. I learned so much watching your videos.
Glad to hear it. Thank you Sandy. Happy new year
Thanks Ian for a short and sweet lesson. I love the length of your lessons as you get the important points across without labouring them.
Happy new year to you.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you Rob. And happy new year!
The educational value you put into your videos is insane, the is the good side of social media, sharing knowledge. Thanks a lot!
Dear Ian Roberts, From Goirle in the Netherlands we wish you a prosperous and happy 2022. I enjoy the films about composition and such things. I'm almost 72 now, but they are still instructive. Thanks for this.
That makes me happy to hear that I might have inspired you Bertus. Wishing you a 2022 of creative expression and fulfilment.
And a joyous painting new year to you Ian.
That checkered board illustration is amazing. Margaret Livinstone's book The Biology of Seeing has fascinating insights on art and perception too. There's a couple of her lectures on RUclips.
I remember reading in Carlson's guide to Landscape Painting that bright objects don't have sharp high contrast edges, as the bright light bleeds into the surrounding space. He was also a great snow painter.
An accomplished artist once suggested the practice of painting stillifes with all white cloth, white cups and saucers teapot etc, both indoors and outdoors, to fine-tune the perception of subtle colors within the local white. Summer here and we don't get snow to practice the color effects on white.
Hi Ken, I"ve read LIvingston's book. I find it really fascinating. She was the one that pointed out the we see in 2D. All the information picked up by the optic nerve comes form a flat surface at the back of the eye. It is the brain that constructs 3D. And that idea of painting an all white still life is a great idea. All the best
Perfect timing, Ian! With all the new snow here in the woods next to Lake Superior, and the gorgeous early/late sunshine, I'm inspired and less intimidated. Many thanks!
Perfect Cameron. I hope you enjoy the process and make sure to have fun. I'm sure the views will be lovely. All the best
Really enjoyed this demonstration. Your point on being careful with reflected light is well taken.
Wonderful. Thank you Priscilla. Glad you liked it
Thanks Ian, this is a recurring challenge well explained.
I would like to see you do a snow scene demo someday. (As per my request) Santa brought me Mastering Composition this Christmas so I have just tried the lake/dogwood picture and have a better appreciation of shadows in the snow, but would like to see more.
HI Joe, thoughtful Christmas present! I'm in southern California now so I don't think about snow very often any more. I'll see if I can find a good image that would be helpful as a demo. All the best.
It's sinking in...value and relationships. Thank you for clear, concise language and examples to get an idea across. For next week, simplifying, getting rid of detail, I live near beautiful forests and it is hard to simplify conifer trees. I keep seeing all those needles and branches. I hope I can apply next weeks' lesson to this subject.
Hi Andrea, glad it is sinking in. And I hope this week's simplicity one helps. I did paint conifers, well two, cypresses. But I think you'll get the idea. All the best
Hi Ian ! So nice to find you back here this year ! Wish you and your loved ones the very best of health and happiness ! Well, this has become my happy place as I always learn something new every week and for that I am ever so grateful ! It’s nice to see the number of your Subscribers rising and I am doing my best to encourage friends from the art classes I used to attend to watch your videos and brush up on painting techniques ....and to Subscribe of course !!😁 I am always grateful for your time and effort to make these videos so interesting and informative . I send you my warmest regards .... Lorraine 🎨🤗
Thank you for those kind words Lorraine and letting me know. I am delighted to hear you are enjoying the videos so much. All the best and I hope you are having a lovely New year
Very good stuff! Thanks, Ian and a happy, healthy 2022 to you and family.
You are so welcome. And a happy new year to you Robert
Excellent, thank you.
These videos are such a gift. The pandemic has given me an opportunity to focus on my art in a way I haven’t done for decades.I was a student 50 years ago but life took me in other directions. The videos are a huge refresher course. The great thing about art is that progress is so clear and visible. Thank you and a very lovely new year to you.
You are so welcome. Thank you for the kind words. All the best and happy new year
I love these nuggety (if I may be permitted) lessons highlighting a single, indispensable concept. I spend a great amount of time afterward, as I go through my day, turning it over in my mind, and making it my own, as I try to “find” it in the real world.
Thanks very much.
Hi Ian, This is so helpful. I am an abstract artist and have learnt so much from your videos and improved my skills. Thank you!!
Thanks Ian. A succinct lesson on highlights -wish I had seen this a year ago. I was struggling with white and highlights. Over time I have learned “never” to use pure white - to always tint it with a bit of colour so that the highlight is elevated at the end. Highlights are now one of my favourite things to paint and I literally have to control myself so that I don’t paint them in too early.
Yes isn't that the tendency to get to highlights before all the big masses around them are working. All the best Sue.
It’s like a kid having to eat all their broccoli before they can have dessert!
Great lesson!
Glad you liked it Lisa. Thank you
Don't ever stop doing videos please
Glad you're enjoying them Valeria
Wow your snow scene painting is BEAUTIFUL 🤩!! Great lesson on white. Thanks again Ian 🙏
Glad you enjoyed it Joann. Thanks so much
Thank you very much!!
Thank you so much for this timely video! We are getting a little snow here in New Hampshire and I’m anxious to attempt a snow scene. The relative value discussion nails the issues and your illustration is as beautiful as it is valuable. Thank you for your time in creating this and all of your videos. They have helped me significantly in my painting journey. Excited to hear about your online classes!!! Happy New Year to you and your family !!
HI Lisa, delighted you have found the videos helpful. Good luck with the snow. I imagine there'll be more coming. All the best.
Ian, thanks. As a watercolor painter we normaly dont use white. We must plan and execute well to leave the white of the paper as our whitest light. Of course some painters use gouache to recover the lights. That does not make us evil; just need better planning and practice. Water colorists need to reverse oil painter practice of dark to light. But the structure of both painting media is the same. I love you your talks. Ive had and used your Compo book since 2009. It was a godsend. Thanks again and keep your nuggets coming PS I am interested in your classes.
HI David, there is a bit of a what purity issue with watercolorists isn't there. But you're right if you can save the paper you do get a white that no amount of thick gouache will match. Delighted you enjoy the videos and the book. You got it right around when it came out I think. All the best.
Thank you! Very helpful!!
Glad you liked it Lisa. Best wishes.
Wow 😮
Thank you Desley
YES!!! Painting white has been a struggle for me..especially painting SNOW!!
THANK YOU for presenting this tutorial about white, it's temperature and relationship to what's next to it...DELIBERATE PRACTICE!! next time I go out to paint my lovely SNOW here in the sierras I'll be thinking of you!
So delighted you found it helpful. All the best. Enjoy the process!
Very exciting news about your offering online instruction…….looking forward to learning more……
Once again, a very insightful demonstration! It was particularly helpful to remind us that if your lights aren’t popping to not only look at how dark your darkest darks are but also what surrounds the colors……highlighting again the importance of the interplay and relationship of colors that sit beside one another!
Well said Ann Marie. All the best.
Happy New Year Ian, I'm painting a white horse, of course he is not white, looking forward to seeing the video
Quite right Marcella. He is not white. Good luck.
Intresting
Needed info on white on white. Perfect. Like being encouraged to practice with bowl. Interested the upcoming class
Excellent. Yes, I will be providing more information in the next few weeks. All the best
great video
Thank you
You're welcome!
This is very helpful Ian and thank you for your good wishes for this new year. The very same to you too!
Happy new year and best wishes to you as well Sandra
Thank you, Ian for this great demo! I see white as a problem, because of that chalky effect I get on my paintings, so I avoid using white. I thing all I need is to learn how to use white and its shades.
Hi Selma, isolate it as a problem and trying painting just that a couple of times and get the hang of it. All the best
Thanks for sharing Ian. I've been working on a large watercolor of a heron perched on a snowy branch. There's a portion in the foreground that is brightly lit. At the moment, it's pure untouched hot press, and I'm hesitant to put any paint on it after all the effort to keep it clean, but your video has convinced me that I have to put some sky reflected in there, which is grey....this is one of the reason I've started dabbling with oils, these all or nothing moments in WC get the best of me...thanks again, very timely video as I look at the snow out my window :)
Hi Dan, I feel for you on that white. But you know a big mass of white paper is going to pull a lot of attention if you actually want us to look at the heron. So it probably has to go. Saying this blind obviously. All the best.
Thank you so much Ian for this and all your lessons. An online course! I'm already signed up for a couple and trying to learn a bit of French for a trip but that really got my attention. Happy New Year.
Hi Kathy, delighted you are enjoying the videos. Ah.. so many options, so little time. I'd be delighted if you joined us if it seems like a good fit. All the best.
I have had trouble with this in the past . The lit side of the inside of the bowl, is it true white? It looks more yellow. Is this why the white highlights stand out more? Thank you
Hi Julie, I don't think it is that they are yellow. It is they are darker. You could do the whole exercise in black and white and it would still work.
Thank you Ian. Great demo. I can use this information in my paintings, for me white is always a difficult color to work with. I would be interested to know more about your on line classes, please send me the details. Happy new year.
HI Kamlesh, glad you enjoyed the video and I'll be talking all about the course on the Jan 25 RUclips video. See you then.
Wow, Ian, this is just too, well, weird. Where we are here in Oregon, we had a huge snowstorm the day after Christmas that lasted several days (not a 'never' occurrence but pretty darn rare) that got me thinking about painting a series of snowscapes. I haven't played with snow scenes since I gave up on watercolor many years ago, but I started thinking about them again. I took lots of photos so I have some material to work with and it seems like a good practice exercise. This was a great video to watch to remind me---values, values, values...
Thanks again Ian and Happy New Year to you and your family!
Good luck with the snow Evan. And best wishes to you as well.
Great tutorial, as always. The painting by Babkov looked almost photo-realistic-wow! I don't know if you mentioned it previously, but I heard somewhere that if your lighted areas are warm then your shadowed areas should be cool(er), and visa-versa. I can definitely see that in your painting of the snow at the riverbank. I'll give painting a white bowl a try!
Ian said that recently.
Hi Sharon, if you have cool light coming in a north window it does make the light cool and the shadows warmer. But it isn't nearly as obvious as the warm light of sunshine and cool shadows. Good luck with the bowl!
Eye opening (though needs practice to be totally absorbed).Great example of how color is relative to what surrounds it. Painting is a series of adjustments and problems to solve.
Well said Marlene. Delighted you enjoyed the video. Best wishes
Does this discuss spontaneous contrast? Where you make the change from light to dark slightly more wide where you have darkest darks and lightest lights.
listening to your vid's is marvelous therapy Ian. Many of us may never create a "striking" masterpiece yet what we learn from your lessons on values and relationships through the application of paint to canvas is invaluable. Helping us to "see" with all our senses is a lesson in truly living. You are so much more than a painter and instructor! Masterful...may God richly bless you.
Thank you so much Daniel. I really appreciate your telling me. All the best.
Happy New year to you and yours. Thank you for your teaching, you explain so beautifully in a way that I can understand. Much appreciated.
Happy new year! Delighted you are finding the videos so helpful Julie
BEST WISHES Monsieur Roberts ;Un grand merci pour les merveilleuses videos so clear,precise in your as well clear and precise pronounciation which a French like me do appreciate.
Please could you tell iwheather your DVD course is subtitles? Anyway I shall wait your announcement of next online classes. HAPPY NEW YEAR
Bonjour Axelle, delighted you are enjoying the videos and you can understand me. The DVD does not have subtitles. Sorry. Maybe one day. But unlike youtube that will do it pretty automatically, that video it would take some doing. All the best.
I like this lesson very much. I’ve watched it several times and I have an ah-ha moment each time. Doing art is so challenging and exciting. Thanks.
Great! Again for another quick and rich master class. I have been watching your videos on my tv so, no comments there :(. But, I am interested in your online classes, so, I'll stay tuned for more info. Thank you 🙏🌟
Excellent. I will provide more information about the online course in the next few weeks. Thanks so much
Salıları sabırsızsızlıkla bekliyorum.Yine çok öğretici idi.Teşekkür ederim.
You are welcome Salilan
Really instructive demo, Ian. My art goal for 2022 is to improve my painting success rate through deliberate practice with design, values, and color--so when you mentioned this exercise as an example of deliberate practice to help with values and highlights, my ears really perked up. Just an idea for future videos, but I'd love to see what else you recommend in terms of skill drills or exercises to improve in these areas. I'm already committed to doing a 'composition a day' as you recommended in your book. :)
Hi Michelle, sounds like you have a good routine worked out. My very best wishes.
Happy New Year! Your demo was a thoughtful exercise for the beginning of the new year. So much is about relationships. Peace!
Well said. Thank you Maureen. Glad you liked it and happy new year
Thanks, Ian. That was what I'd call a good start - but from me at least, you don't yet get get the cigar! This works fine for me when painting a simple form where I control the light source, but in a landscape with multiple value relationships all over the place, I'm still a drowning man. Maybe some day you could show us how to simplify value relationships in a more complex painting. Not easy, I guess, but who better to do than you? Thanks for your great videos, you have made Tuesdays meaningful!
I think Ian has created many great videos where he does exactly as you describe.
well thank you Fiona.
Hi Terry, I think it is important to get the principle down. Then take it to more complex things. I do that in fact this week in simplify9ing a complex scene. A landscape filled with various value relationships. It's a drawing but I hope you find it helpful
@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Looking forward to it. I hope my comment didn't come across as critical. You are my (unpaid) mentor and have learned a ton from you.
Once again, a lovely little lesson, Ian. I have a question, not exactly about whites but possibly related. I live in an area of many waterfalls. I want to work my way toward painting them. You've shown many bodies of water-rivers, sea, but would you consider a demo on waterfalls? thanks so much, Leslie
Hi Leslie, let me see if I have a photo I could work from. I used to live in the Sierras and in the spring and during the runoff I loved painting those waterfalls. But I will say most of the water is much darker than you think. Imagine sunlight on the lightest bits of water, so you need darks in the water that allow for the difference between sunlit and shadowed water and the darks in the shadowed water. You really need a range of values to make it work. Good luck.
I make mud when I go back and forth, yet I must go back and forth in order to achieve that balance.
I think I still need to get a handle on how to manage brushwork.
Hi Tatiana, main thing with mud is not to get the warms and cool paint mixed up. Try and keep the warms and cools separate and the lights and darks. The mud I think usually comes by them getting muddled. Hope that make sense.
Thank you so much, Ian, for this great lesson and I look forward to your online course. Happy New Year!
Thank you Maryann. Happy new year to you as well
Türkçeye cevrilmiş öğretici vidyo aradıgım şeydı. Çook tesekkür ediyorum... devamını bekliyorum.
When studying whites, do you recommend starting with a white or toned support, and if toned what would you choose?Thanks! You explain things so clearly!
HI Bernadette, I normally use yellow ochre and ivory black to make a very neutral tone. I'd call it off white. If you go back to one of the youtube videos where I do a smaller painting you can see the value of the panel. It isn't dark.
Cool video boss man. How did u exaggerate the image of the bowl?
Hi Gabe, glad you liked it. You mean in the photo? With Procreate on an ipad.
My eyedropper tool actually gives hexadecimal values for the lit dark square that are lighter than those of the shaded light square: variations of 7x6x6x for A, variations of 6x5x5x for B. A is LIGHTER than B!
Excellent tutorial again dear Ian. Value as a focus and use of cool/warm color. Thanks for your highlight course and have a great artistic 2022 too.
My pleasure Wolfgang. Thank you for watching
I hope I will be able to attend your course,even if I live in Ireland. Thank you for all your advice so far.
Hi Miriam, I'd be delighted if you could join us for the course. There's a live weekly zoom call that would be around 5 pm your time on Saturday. But it's recorded. All the best.
Thank you Ian for a very helpful video. Excited about your upcoming course!! Happy New Year to you and Anne. Stay well!
Great. I am excited to provide more information in the next few weeks. Happy new year to you as well Jan
I remember reading scathing reviews of the Canadian Group of Seven's winter landscapes, pooh-poohing their "blue and purple snow". Like, these critics never actually looked at snow?
Hi Ian. I learn so much from your videos. Clarity and precision. Great presentation Enjoy watching how you use the “brush “. many Many Thanks Miriam
May 5, 2022. Hi Ian, I love all of your tutorials!! You are making it hard for me to get off of my computer or tv and immerse myself in my own painting! Lol!! May I ask, how often do you post new videos, nowadays?
Thankyouuu Ian ❤️❤️ for this amazing explaination ,and very happy new year to you .
Happy new year! Glad you liked the video
My Watercolour tutor keeps saying, "keep some areas totally white and go really dark,almost black, on the darkest part". Tonal variation
Thank you Ian. Very informative. I do so enjoy your videos.
Glad you like them Paul. Thank you
👌❤️
Thank you Sophie
Great video as always. Thank you Robert and Happy New Year.
Happy new year! Thank you Maureen.
thank you. do you use different whites like zink or flake ? or just titanium?
I did an urban winter scene last year looking at the snow out my window and realized that the snow actually seemed blue the more I studied the view.
never over glob.. thanks for the simplified explanation. it helps
Thanks for this video. Regard from Jakarta, Indonesie
Thank you for shedding light on a confusing concept. So helpful!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you
Thank you so much for your messages! You are very inspiring!!!!
thankyou sir this lesson very usefull to me, as you know i have no teacher in my country and i really need it from you
I was wanting to do a still life with a white bowl but wondered how to make it look natural. It's like you knew what I was thinking!
I love it when that happens. Glad you will be able to use the video so soon!
Very informative, Ian. Thank you!
You are very welcome Gayle. Happy new year to you and your family!
Thanks so much, this is immensely useful. 😊
Glad you think so Rachel!
Another amazing lesson and demo. Looking forward to info on your new on-line course!
Thank you! Glad you liked it
So..., I'm looking forward to see the next video about painting dark, how they paint beautiful night. Thanks for the video!
Thank you! So much information in 6 minutes.
Hello from Montreal, I was a little stuck on painting of a winter scene of a skating rink in our local park that I was doing. I needed to see some ideas on colour, shadow and layering of the snow. I wasn’t aware of you and your channel. I’ve gotten back into trying to paint again (COVID made me do it) Anyways I have taken a few photos when playing golf etc. of scenes that I would eventually paint. I think I’m hooked. So I have started watching your videos for inspiration and guidance. Take care
HI David, I'm happy you are finding them helpful. Learning to paint is great and engaging path. My very best wishes.
So much information brought together and such a good limited example. Very clear. Makes me want to start with similar when I get back to painting. Thank you.
Hey Molly so nice to hear from you. All the best.
Thanks John, always a great lecture / discussion. Much appreciated
Thanks, what live courses?
I'll be talking about the courses on the Jan 25 RUclips video. All the best.
B is actually quite a bit darker than A, dust measured it
I loved the video 😍😍finally understanding some bits of painting highlights 👏👏👏
Thank you so much
Thank you Ian. Great demo, and great idea. Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy new year. Ok, I’m off to find a white bowl.
HI Laurel glad you liked it and best wishes to you as well.
Much needed!!! thanks Ian!!!
You are very welcome Paresh
Many thanks, and happy new year🍷
Happy new year! Thank you Alan
But you are painting with acrylic or oil colors?
You sound like Jordan Peterson of painting ❤️
I have so much respect for intelligently done white paintings. I struggled so much with them in art school.
My absolute favorite white on white painter is Fra Angelico, and the frescoes of San Marco in Firenze. They are fresh and delicious
Hi Moesly, I have been through San Marco and seen those small beautiful frescos he did in each cell for each monk . Florence is so rich in art.