How To Create Light Effects In Your Paintings

Let there be light and there was light. If you know what you are doing you really can make your pictures luminous-filled with light.

This class is about 'skill development'. The skills are not complicated nor are they too difficult. The good news is that many great artists have used them and you are about to learn them.

I found out about these painting principles studying many well-known artist's paintings and reading in detail explanations of what techniques they used to achieve the Painting Light Effects that made their artwork glow. I am excited about seeing what you can do with these techniques.

I have chosen three painting to work on for this class. You will get to see real work in real time as I explain what I am doing to get these major works 'exhibition ready'.

The pictures shown below are before I applied the 'Magic Light Effects" that you will be learning in this class. You will have to watch the class to see how I make them pop with more lighting effects.

Picture during the  'Glow Treatment' (See Below)

Here is an example of the 'Big Sky ' in my daughter's backyard. Paint where you are planted!

Light Effects are happening below!!! I am excited about this painting and the direction it is going. One of the Stars of our show.

 J.M.W.Turner's Marine Painting from the 18th century (when tube paints were just being invented by a small company called Winsor and Newton) is a perfect example of luminosity, or we might call 'glow'.

All the black in front of the sun was originally a vibrant red that was extremely fugitive, meaning that it would lose its color, and turn dark. Turner admitted that he knew that but used it anyways so as to enjoy the color at the moment he presented it for public viewing. The crowd loved the intense red that he used but sadly we see a dull blackened gray tone 200 years later.

We should always use good quality materials as it is a good painting practice.

This class will give you an insight into the 'Old Masters' (of which some were men and others women) and how they approached the magic of light in their paintings.

Here are some of the Painting Tips you will be able to use right away with some of the pictures you may have already started in your studio or workspace.

1- How to cool down or warm up a painting with glazing.

2- How to make 'veiled color' and capture the essence of transparent, vaporous subject matter, such as water, clouds, and sky.

3- How to set dark against light and make for greater contrast and interest in your painting.

4- How to use brave bold brushstrokes to open up your painting and free it from timidity.

5- How to find patterns in your work and let them lead you to your true creative side.

Class demos will be in acrylic with gloss medium and acrylic with water. You may use oil or watercolor and get very similar results. These are principles you are learning, not rules.The techniques will work in all disciplines.

I will be showing you these Painting Light Effects on three major works that I am getting ready to exhibit. Join me in my studio as I reveal what I have learned from the Great Painters who have gone before us. I will pass it on to you ...their gift is my pleasure and your responsibility ... until you see fit to pass it on.

• Painting Tips / Creativity With Light
• Painting Tip 1 'Perfect Glaze'
• Painting Tip 2 'Cool and Warm'
• Painting Tip 3 'Light Effects'
• Painting Tip 4 'Dark against Light'
• Painting Tip 5 'Shadows and Depth'
• Painting Tip 6 'Creating Mood'
• Painting Tip 7 'Thick Paint Over Glaze'