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Lime on a Teatowel – highlights and shadows

February 17, 2016 by Lin Kerr 3 Comments

17-02-16 Shadows2 72

By learning the names and recognizing shadows and highlights help us tune in to observing them when painting in oils. A well lit subject can have at least 10 nuances of colour!

  • When the light changes gradually from light to dark or dark to light it is diffused light.
    The midtone is the average colour or light.
  • The core shadow is the darkest interior shadow often just beyond the terminator. It is the darkest shadow within the object.
  • Cast shadows can be crisp on the edges like this one, but on a cloudy day may be diffused. Cast shadows often change in intensity as they get further away from the object.
  • The occlusion shadow is the darkest shadow between the object and the cast shadow. It is where the object makes contact with the ground.
  • The light area indicates the direction that the light comes from e.g. the right.
    The highlight is the brightest area of light and is often a small area. It is painted last in oils.
  • The terminator (this sounds like sci-fi) is diffused on a curved surface and crisp on a planed surface. It is where the light changes from light to dark as the 3D plane changes. In realistic painting, this should be blended on a curve, but is crisp on a sharp change of plane e.g. a box .
  • Reflected light reflects the colour of the ground – this shows on light or shiny objects. Here you can see a little white shape, reflecting the tea towel.
  • If the light source is from the front, both edges will be darker and the centre of the object will be brighter.
  • And lastly, if the light source is from the back, you will often find two cast shadows, one lighter than the other. Most of the object has a core shadow and the edges are lit. An extreme is when the object is a silhouette and looks two-dimensional.
Lime on a tea towel 10-02
Lime on a tea towel 10-02

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Comments

  1. Bev says

    February 17, 2016 at 6:10 am

    This is really useful… a bit complicated but really something to hold onto when I finally try my hand at painting!

    Reply
    • Lin says

      February 17, 2016 at 6:35 am

      Hi Bev
      Not really. Take a lime and put it on a teatowel, and light it from the right with a desk light. Then check out those shadows. Voila!
      Love lin

      Reply
  2. Alice says

    February 17, 2016 at 1:48 pm

    This is fascinating. I never realised that there were so many different aspects to light and shade – or that they all have names!

    Reply

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