Where does Ambient Reflected Light come into your Painting? - Painting & Drawing Tips

IMAGINE: Lights softly dimmed; slow easy music playing; candles sparkling; wine chilling.  

I think you can picture the rest.

A strong mood and atmosphere.  Each item helps to build the total scene.  Individually they flounder.  For Cohesion and Drama, they need to work together.  

TRICKLING WATER - matted 12 X 16 $650 - Part of my Deep in the Forest Series.  Note the affect of reflected light on the rocks and water both real and fantasy

In my last post I talked a lot about light and shadows and the effect of reflective light on them.  (See Playing with Light, Shadows and Values ) I find this a very interesting topic that has implications in all areas of your art. I also created a video "Getting Those Shadows Working for You'  which is available In the Instructional Series for the Arts Council of Surrey.  (October 2020)  In addition there is a Free Downloadable Mushroom Activity Sheet to go with it.  

Reflective Light is more than just LIGHT . . . .

Lighthouse at Amphitrite Point, BC - Note the Reflected light on the rocks, trees and lighthouse from the sky

Reflective Light has colour.  Think of that lovely scene I described at the beginning.  It has a special ambience to it.  There is a "mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc., to that environment."  This ambience is created with sight, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch.  In planning your picture you take into consideration the same things to design the 'feel' you want your picture to have. 

But the Ambience of a space is more . . .

The ambience created by the softly dimmed lights, the sparkling candles, even the wine in the glass all affect the colours you use.  Yes, you are saying.  That makes sense.  But I want you to look one step further.  I want you to look at the effect of Ambient Reflective Light on the colour of each item in your painting.  

I found the effect of Ambient Reflective Light an EYE OPENER. . .

A good example is the Cockatoo below.  I took this picture at the local Bird Sanctuary.  

Note the affect of Ambient Reflected Light on this white Cockatoo

The Cockatoo is a white bird with a plume of yellow on his head.  When you look at this picture you definitely think "white bird".  But take a closer look. 

Close Up of the Cockatoo - note the colours on the tail feathers and legs

When I looked closer at my picture, I found this profound.  My white bird wasn't white.  There was green tones and red tones on him.  These are the effect of the Ambient Reflective Light.  The green is from the leaves beside him.  Their colour is reflected on the bird as it bounced off the leaves onto him.  The redish tones are also reflective light.  That colour is reflected off the wooden branches the bird is standing on.  Would you have painted green and red tones on your white bird?  

AFTERNOON TEA - Matted 16 x 20 $650 - Note the Reflected Light on the Hummingbird

In my painting, Afternoon Tea,  you can really see how Ambient Reflected Light brings drama and cohesion to the work.  This little hummingbird really fits into the picture with the pinks of the flowers reflected onto his body.  The pinks in the sky give the feeling of other flowers around in the background providing a very cohesive setting and giving the feel of a bright sunny day.  

Close up: Trickling Water - note the repetition of colours in the water, rocks and mossy areas

Now, I don't want to create panic in your mind.  My intention was to open up another area of awareness as you painted.  It has made me realize that cohesion in my work requires use of colours throughout my work rather than in isolated areas.  In otherwards, to have green grass and blue sky is not enough.  The green grass is reflected into the sky and the blue of the sky is reflected into the grass.  There needs to be some greens in the sky and blues in the grass for the picture to be cohesive.  

This is the part I found hard.  Green in the blue sky? Just like the red and greens on the white bird.  When you first drop that colour down it may look foreign but as you build your image with it, you will see it needs to be there.   My rule of thumb is " if I used the colour somewhere in the background it needs to be in other places. At least 3.  It can be a different value and size but it needs to be there".  

Take a look at the close up for Trickling Water. The mossy rocks have all the colours on them that are found in the water.  Does it seem right to you?  Does it make sense to your eye?  Ambient Reflective Light is a really fun to work with and can create all kinds of different effects in your work.  Check out other works to see how they use Ambient Reflective Light.  

See you next week.  Better still, see you at the show.  Info below.

FACE-TO-FACE Gallery show!! - Only 9 Days Left!!

Artswest Showcase

October 1 - 31, 2020

Landmark Pop-Up Gallery - 15140 North Bluff Rd, White Rock

Full Covid Safety Rules in Effect - Only 6 in the Gallery at a time 

Open: Wed 10-5pm  Thurs & Fri 10-8, Sat 10-5pm Sun 12-5pm

Come see what our Art Group has been doing - Lots of new Original pieces of Art, special

One-of-a-Kind Art Items and special gift items for any occasion.  

Do you have big/small projects on the go?  

Looking for a sounding board, help, suggestions, techniques. You and your Inner Critic looking to expand your discussions.  I am available for Online Coaching/Teaching  (3 sessions 30 minutes each $75). more info here.   

  
Many find this post helpful: Turn your Inner Critic into your BFF

 

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy