The tree canopy around my home has transitioned out of the golden greens of spring and into mature summer hues. I've been experimenting with painting one particular tree when the morning light slants in low, for the most dramatic effect.
At this time, the sun's warm yellow rays light one side of the tree, and cool shadows lay deep within the tree's core and on the far side.
By mixing warm yellowy-greens for the brightly sunlit, outer portion of the tree and contrasting these with darker, cooler blue-greens in the shadowed portion of the tree, the viewer's eye naturally sees depth.
Holding the painting back a bit helps to see the illusion.
It doesn't matter whether I use Neocolor II watercolor crayons (first drawing) or watercolor paint (lower two photos) -- you could even use colored pencils -- the effect remains the same. Our eyes see cooler, colors as distant, and warmer colors as nearer.
Give this effect a try in your next sketch or painting. What do you notice?
No comments:
Post a Comment