In this chapter, we're diving into the art of painting expressive skies with a focus on back lighting—a key element often overlooked in landscape painting. This scene offers a captivating opportunity to explore the drama of towering clouds and the subtle gradation of the sky. As artists, our task is to highlight the beauty we perceive, and this lesson will guide you in enhancing and exaggerating those elements that captivate you. We'll start with the sky's gradation, painting into a wet layer to capture the warmth of sunset light, and then move on to creating expressive clouds with a variety of shapes, colors, edges, and textures. You'll learn how to use back lighting to create rim-lighting effects, adding depth and interest to your work. Using a large synthetic flat brush, we'll tackle the shadows on rocks and wet sand, ensuring they lead the viewer's eye to the majestic clouds above. This lesson is designed to be accessible, whether you're working in acrylics or oils, and I'll guide you through each step, encouraging you to experiment and infuse your own style into the process. Enjoy the journey of bringing your skies to life!
Step 9Painting the sand
Mix the Base Sand Color
Start with red, as it's the closest color to brown, which is the color of sand. Add a little blue to tone down the punchy mix of red and yellow, creating a brown color. If the color appears too dark, add a little bit of white to lighten it.
Adjust the Sand Color
Add more warm colors, like red and yellow, if the sand color becomes too gray. As the sand moves further away, it should get a little bit lighter due to more light exposure. Use big brushstrokes with lots of paint for the sand in the foreground.
Define Sand Edges
Use a pencil to draw the edge of the sand if you want to ensure the shapes are nice and accurate. Paint very crisp edges where the sand meets the water to create a clear distinction.
Create Soft Shadows
Add more yellow ochre and white to soften the sand color and help create a soft shadow with very soft edges. When the sand mixes with a little bit of the sky color, it creates the effect of the sky reflecting off wet sand.
Detail Around Rocks
Be careful to draw around the rocks quite accurately. Switch to a smaller brush if it helps, or use a large crisp brush for clean and defined edges.
Summary & key takeaways
In this lesson, you embarked on a journey to capture the beauty of expressive skies with backlighting. Begin by laying down a wet base of white paint to ensure smooth blending and gradations. Introduce colors gradually, starting with a sunset pink at the bottom, blending into yellows and blues as you move upwards. This creates a dynamic sky that sets the stage for your painting.
As you progress, focus on creating depth and movement in the clouds by using a combination of hard and soft edges. Use retarder medium to extend the drying time of your acrylics, allowing you to blend colors seamlessly. Pay attention to the details in the clouds and reflections, ensuring they convey the natural interplay of light and shadow.
Finally, bring your scene to life by adding details to the rocks, sand, and reflections. Use a variety of colors and brush techniques to add texture and dimension. Remember to personalize your painting by adjusting elements like clouds and islands to suit your vision. Once complete, share your masterpiece with others and enjoy the feedback from your painting community.
Points to remember
- Keep the white paint layer wet by using a water bottle for smooth blending.
- Use retarder medium to slow down drying time and allow for better blending.
- Apply thicker paint for clouds to ensure it sits on top of the wet layer.
- Use a combination of hard, soft, and very soft edges to add dimension to clouds.
- Apply paint lightly with the tip of the brush to keep highlights distinct.
- Maintain the darkness of a color over wet paint by replenishing the paint on your brush.
- Use big brushstrokes with lots of paint for the sand in the foreground to create texture.
- Make the sky color lighter than intended, as it will dry darker.
