Right now it is mid-February on the West Coast of BC, and it is WARM.
I mean wear your summer runners warm.
Everyone is at the park and wondering through the plant shops!!
It is warm.
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| View from Campbell River Sea Walk - Matted 11 x 14 $225 |
Yes, we know that we still have lots of rain to go through before summer but 'We are enjoying it now'.
Warm and Cold is not all about the weather but it is also, all about your paints too!!
When I finished painting this scene I realized that it was really all about warm and cool colours. My sunny areas were the warm colours and the shady areas were cool. This may not be the case for other paintings. Some will have the shade warm and a cool light. This can also make for an interesting painting.
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| Focus: The colours in the background |
1. The Background: I have circled the areas on the right side of the painting indicating W (yellow) for the Warm spots and C (fushia) for cool spots. Note that the background of the landscape is layers. By changing from warm to cool with each layer I have created depth in my work. The warm comes forward and the cool pushes back. So there is a push-pull with each layer there.
You will see evidence of this happening with each of the other areas.
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| Rocky Mid-ground |
2. Rocky Mid-ground: The clue here that things must be different is the rocks. The rocks in the sunshine are faded, but light warm tones. (soft beige coloured and soft warm pink tones). While the rocks in the shade are darker cool colors. (cool purples & blues)
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| Warm and Cool tones of the Trees |
3. Painting the Tree: I think this area really brought it home to me what all this business of Warm and Cool Colours was all about. When you look at the tree and its branches your can see clearly that one section is in the sunshine and one section the shade. So even though the branches are "green" they can't all be the same shade of green.
This is an 'ahhhh' moment. If the leaves are cool greens, as the ones in the shade are, they are blue greens. I used cool blues like viridian, cobalt teal blue as my base. While the warm sunny branches have yellows mixed with sap green.
When painting the branches things are not quite cut and dry. Some of the branches on the sun side may be shaded by other branches. So not everything will be warm or cool.
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| Warm and Cool Foreground |
4. Foreground area: This is the meat and potatoes of your painting. The place where your viewer spends the most time. The story of this painting.
I found it to be the most challenging area to paint. I had to keep reminding myself that the shade had to be cool colours. Here again the cobalt teal blue came into play. When I first put it on the logs I thought it was completely wrong. Blue logs!!! But after, I became one of my favourite parts. It really makes for a cool colour in the shade.
The yellow grasses are another battle of warm and cool. Although I have them circled as warm there is evidence within the warm golden colour grasses that some are in the shade and so are cool, almost lime green in colour.
Take a look at some of your paintings. In many cases we make the right colour decision but often if things look a bit off, this could be the reason. Certainly if the painting feels a bit flat, poor use of warm and cool colours could be the issue.
Have fun with your warm and cool colours and I certainly hope you are getting a few nice sunny days, even if they are cold.
You are invited to my Special Upcoming Events:
1. Senior Show, Cloverdale Recreation Center ( 6188 176 St, Sry)
Feb 13 - Apr 13, 2026
Exciting to show 4 of my large drawings of large west coast birds: Heron, Bald Eagle, Short-erred Owl & Canadian Goose.
Feb 13 - Apr 13, 2026
Exciting to show 4 of my large drawings of large west coast birds: Heron, Bald Eagle, Short-erred Owl & Canadian Goose.
2. Expressions of Spring Show - Newton Cultural Center, (13530 72 Ave, Sry)
March 3-29, 2026.
March 3-29, 2026.
This is a group show with Artswest. I have 5 pieces in this show.
3. Class - Introduction to Drawing with Pen & Watercolour, Newton Cultural Center
Friday, March 13, 10:30-12pm
All supplies incld. Free by Donation. Registration Require with Wendy
All supplies incld. Free by Donation. Registration Require with Wendy
Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work,
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Have a great Artful Day,
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