Colour & Paint 6 - Understanding Lighting

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Good lighting can completely transform a painting, and in this tutorial I’ll introduce you to one of the most important ideas we’ll use throughout our projects: the relationship be tween light, shadow and form. I’ll explain how strong lighting creates a greater contrast between your lightest lights and darkest darks, along with all those wonderful mid-tones in between. That contrast can help an object feel beautifully solid and three-dimensional, almost popping off the page. We’ll also look at softer lighting, where the contrasts are gentler and the finished painting can have a much quieter, more subtle atmosphere. Neither approach is right or wrong – it all depends on the effect you want to create. As we progress through the course, I’ll show you how to recognise these lighting effects and use them deliberately to bring greater depth, mood and life to your paintings. Show more