Shadows and depths.

[smiler]

I'm struggling here. I haven't a clue how to get the shadows. I'm sort of ok on buildings but when it comes to anything else I get lost. Mainly with water colour. I try using dark colours ( turn to solid mass) I try building from deeper washes ( turn to mud or solid mass) I'm ruining lots of paintings and pare through this.  Any ideas welcome.

[JWJ]

Shadows is something I struggle with also. On buildings I tend to use a wash of Payne's grey and paint over, but that often bleeds and smudges. I saw a couple of painting programs recently where the artist was using a colour called 'Shadow' and he mixed this with whatever wash he wanted darkening.

This is certainly something I need a lot of help with, so I'm glad you've posted and I'm keen to see what other answers you get. 

[pirate]

Gilly i use shadow (Terry Harrison own)
or paynes grey or week ultermarine.
useing a thin wash.
Ian

[Sue R]

Shadows are one of my favourite parts of a painting, Gilly, and I love splashing them across pathways especially. My usual mixes are French Ultramarine with either Aliz Crimson or Light Red. If you are painting cast shadows on grass just use a stronger mix of the original grass.  I don't know if you are a flower painter but I am hopeless with floral shadows so can't help you!

[smiler]

Thanks Ian, I'll go and google Terry Harrison now ( almost sounds rude  )
Sue, thank you too. I'm struggling with flowers but I keep trying. I'll try your ideas on the next painting.

[smiler]

Ian, I've just been looking at TH's site and it's fab. I also spotted one of the puzzle picture's too   I have a feeling that site is going to cost me pennies   The shadow paint sounds fab.Thank you


Now I'm  I've just been rummaging through some Art books I have on a shelf under the PC desk ( where I paint) and I have 'Watercolour Trees' by Terry Harrison  How on earth did I manage to forget about it? I don't think I've opened it since I bought it this time last year

[Ingrid]

I love shadows, but it took time, and courage to ease myself into them.   When painting buildings it is more of a shadow wash.  In foliage I do wet into wet, sometimes using the paint almost undiluted! 

[smiler]

Thanks Ingrid. Now  I need to go away and practice. I did try a little wet in to wet but got a bit out of my depth LOL.

[Ingrid]

It's like everything in our art Gilly, just keep practicing. From what I have seen of your beautiful art you don't have a lot to worry about. 

[smiler]

 :oops:Thanks Ingrid, you're too kind. At the moment I feel like I want to practice all the time, it's seriously interfering with my housewifely duties 

[smiler]

Ian, I'm blaming you. I bought the shadow paint and a set of brushes kind of found their way on to my order too Also bought a couple of books to help me a bit more. I had some money from my OH's son for Christmas so I've put it to good use 

[Tracey]

Hey Gilly

Now I aint much good with WC's - too muddy for me - but with oils I tend to make shadows out of the colors around the shadow... for intance.... and yellow flower with a green leaf (no abstraction here, note) I would make the shadows on the folwer with a mixture of the yellow and the green, adding more green to darker shadow areas.... or a red ball on a blue table cloth..... a mixture of the red and blue.... the darker the shadow, the more of the stronger color I use.  On faces this can work, or not... depending on my mood (!) for instance... first let me add I hate the use of black or grey to make shadowy areas - those kind of shadows look wrong.  Look at a real shadow carefully, note the colors you see - never black or grey eh?  But on a face, flesh tone and maybe black hair, the mixture of the two colors don't work, so I'd use the flesh tone and maybe the background color or the clothing color, or even the eye color, coz black makes shadows just wrong!!!  Dunno if that makes any sense or not? Hope so!!

Trace x

[paintbrush]

tracey black is such a dead colour, and I hardly ever use it.Shadows should be as soft as possible and the colours depending on whether it is a sunny day or a cold day.I do mine verysoftly with a lot of water, when they are dry I go over it again a little darker. I presume it would be different if you were using oilpaint.Shadows are extremely hard to get just right in watercolour, you just have to keep trying. I know I have been trying for a long time  and still cant get them right. Ann Paintbrush

[Ingrid]

Nice to see you two ladies have met. 

[pirate]

Gilly blame me
i,ve not said about brushes though i have some but not a full set.
Ian