Painting Light and Shadow Shapes

/

Painting Light and Shadow Shapes

I love to paint in only two values - the value of the light and the value of the shadow. I discovered this technique about 20 years ago as a way to learn to make and paint shapes. Anyone who has ever taken a course from me knows that I always emphasize the importance of making good shapes in a painting. Shapes are one of the core building blocks of painting.

My main goal in doing this type of painting is to try and create a single, connected, continuous shadow shape and a single, connected, continuous light shape. In essence I am trying to paint two shapes with one value per shape. That sounds easy, right? It’s not - not at all. It takes thought and planning to develop the shapes before hand, so that when you get to the surface you have some idea of what you’re doing.

This composition is one I developed in 2005 for a Frank Webb workshop I was taking. The night before the workshop began I sketched it out from a picture of a local Bed and Breakfast. I love the look and feel of this old structure, and it has some great shapes that can be used to make an interesting painting. Below is the painting from the workshop.

I painted this composition in watercolor again a couple years later. This time I painted it using only two values, and I was stunned by the finished painting and my understanding of shapes once completed. Below is the second painting. It’s the only painting I have ever sold that I wish I had back - one of my favorites from 30 years of painting.

In today’s demo, I first drew the composition onto the 300lb Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper (the paper is coated with gesso). My color intent was to use violet and yellow. The yellow representing the light and the violet representing the shadow. I tried to compose the shapes so that they were interesting and linked together, interlocking with neighboring shapes.

I mixed several different violets using Cobalt Blue Hue, Ultramarine Blue, Teal, Quinacridone Magenta and Medium Magenta. I reduced the intensity of each by adding Yellow Ochre. I then added some Light Violet and Titanium White to Benzimidazolone Yellow Light, Diarylide Yellow, Naples Yellow Hue and Yellow Ochre to reduce the intensity of the yellows and lighten the value of each.

The rest is in the video. I think it’s fun to see the image gradually develop until you finally see some building shapes come into focus. I tried to keep it loose and vary the edges of the shapes a bit. This is the first time I have painted this in acrylic and the first time I have painted it since 2007. Granted, I’m a little rusty, but I like the finished product.

If any of you are interested in getting better at developing the shapes in your paintings (and who isn’t, right?) then I highly recommend this exercise. Make it about the shapes, not about making the scene look realistic. Try to distance the painting as far as possible from reality. Have fun with it!

If you'd like to learn about abstract painting and making your own authentic work, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of workshops HERE)

2022 Workshops

As always, thanks for your support!

David

Simple Color System Colorwheel

If you have seen my videos on YouTube or taken one of my workshops, you have seen me use my Simple Color System Colorwheel. My Simple Color System is easy to use and assures that the color in your paintings will be harmonious. Proudly made in North Carolina.

You can purchase the Colorwheel HERE.

I Have a NEW Online “Short Course”:

Using the Color Wheel. Has anyone (even an art instructor) ever asked you to purchase a color wheel, or told you need a color wheel, but then never taught you how to use it? In this course I’ll show you exactly how to use it and provide you with a system to implement all the color combinations in your work. Includes 13 video tutorials. $47.

Click Here to Purchase

Other Online Workshops

ALL ABOUT COLOR is a great online course that will show you a straightforward, no nonsense, clear and easily understandable approach to using harmonious color in your paintings. Now On Sale for $50 Off!

Click Here to Learn More



Abstract Painting Academy is an online workshop experience specifically designed to teach you how to paint Abstract Paintings (like only you can!), Loosen Up your painting style, and use Design Fundamentals to give your paintings Dynamic Visual Impact. You get David’s personal attention and feedback on all of your work during the course. Now On Sale for $100 Off!
Click Here to Find Out More

The Painting Insider (formerly Abstract Painting Insider) now has a new format and is not abstract painting specific. Weekly lessons provide an abundance of information to painters at any level. I have poured information about everything I have learned about painting over the last 30 years into one course!

Click Here to Find Out More