#PAINT FX NEW SKY PDF#

If I painted the mist wrong, it would stand out and probably ruin the painting.Painting the mist this way presented a few challenges: However, looking back now the color seems to be too cool, which is a slight mistake. The color I ended up using in the painting was a very light and slightly warm gray. If they are not, then even if I mix the color exactly as it is in the reference photo, it will look wrong in the context of my painting. The problem with this approach is that it assumes the surrounding colors are the same in my painting. The alternative would be to look at the color in the reference photo, determine exactly what color it is, and replicate that color in my painting. When I was mixing the color for the mist, I was thinking about these relationships.

The mist is a touch warmer in color temperature than the surrounding colors.The mist is much less saturated than the surrounding colors.The mist is much lighter than the surrounding colors.So, going back to the New Zealand reference photo, I can see the following color relationships between the mist and the surrounding colors: My best recommendation is to think in terms of color relationships rather than absolute colors. By color relationships, I mean how light, dark, saturated, weak, blue, red or yellow the color is compared to its surroundings. Mistakes in terms of color tend to stand out when painting transient effects. By way of comparison, think about what the sense of movement would look like if the steam formed a horizontal line. Notice how the steam forms a rough, diagonal line.The edges of the steam are soft, but you can still make out the general shape of it.His use of painterly brushwork, thick paint, and solid color gives substance to the hot steam.Here are some key observations regarding the steam which fills the room:

Below is the reference photo I painted from and a close-up of the mist sitting on the calm water: I will show you what I mean using my New Zealand Reflections as an example.

What is the general sense of movement? It is going upward? Downward? To the right? To the left? Swirling? Still?.

Is there a sense of three-dimensionality to the effect, or does it appear flat? Sometimes, the effect will have enough substance for you to make out different light and dark planes.

Can you make out any geometric shapes (circles, triangles, squares)? These tend to be easier to measure and draw compared to irregular organic shapes.

If you had to draw an outline around the transient effect, what would that shape look like?.

The shapes, forms, and movements will usually be hazy and indistinct, but they are there! This is the main challenge of painting transient effects due to their fleeting and elusive nature. You should approach transient effects just like you would any other subject-look for basic shapes, forms, and movements.

#PAINT FX NEW SKY PDF#

(Bonus: Click here to download a PDF copy of my Color Theory Cheat Sheet.) Shape, Form, and Movement

Paint fx new sky