Quick Tip 283 - Cast Shadow Colors

Cast shadow colors vary for a number of reasons. Artist/art teacher Dianne Mize explains what to look for and how to create what you see.

[@ravenhawthorne8920]

Just wanted to add that the coolness of these outdoor shadows is thanks to weaker ambient blue light from the sky bouncing all over the place. The shadows are an absence of direct light, but of course light must be bouncing in that region or else the shadow would appear completely black. Most ambient light is from the sky, so the shadows appear bluer, cooler. If the ambient light from the sky was orange, shadows would appear warmer

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for adding that.

[@urban_fox4658]

I'm so thankful I found your channel!! I wish I'd taken art classes from you growing up. I passed up three different chances to take FREE lessons offered to me by artists who thought I had something special. Unfortunately, I didn't believe it, and gave up on going to college for Art (blew a free ride to go to Ringling Bros Art Uni and a guaranteed job at Disney!!!) and went for my other passion - writing - and picked up journalism instead. But my oh my, now I'm 46yrs old having to "teach myself" the basics - color theory, mixing colors, perspective, etc. ... and you know what? I'm LOVING it!! Lol ***So, here's a FREE Lesson - Don't be stubborn, too shy, or think you aren't good enough to live your dreams! You're HERE, watching this wonderful, fabulously explained video! We can do it!*** And being an artist is NOT all (or even *at all* ) about having talent! It's about passion, motivation to learn, and then practice, practice, practice what we're taught! Thank you so much for these lessons, Mrs. Dianne! Blessings!! ❤👩🏻‍🎨🎨🖌❤

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@billy.campbell]

You are one of the best teachers on the Internet. I get a lot out of each video that I watch

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Billy! Happy painting!

[@PLSassociates]

Another excellent quick tip Dianne! My understanding of seeing color has grown by leaps and bounds since watching your videos!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful!

[@margaretf667]

Thank you, no one explains colour theory better! 😁

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@happy-xi4kq]

Great

[@jodiking7983]

You are a sweet, delightful, charming, amusing, and skillful teacher! It's wonderful to learn from someone who can get the knowledge from their brain and put it through their speech! Thank you! 🙂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you so much!

[@marciagklarosk5161]

Oh my Gosh! Finally I can understand it! Thank you very much! You are the best painting teacher, ever!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful! Welcome aboard. And thanks.

[@oilpaintingacademyopa2961]

Diane, God bless you. Learned from you more than any full length instructional dvd on the market. You are like David leffel, a calm soul , a master artist.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you for that.

[@alkasarin1073]

Dianne your lessons are like a dictionary..to go back to them again and agsin

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Alka!

[@alkasarin1073]

Thanks Duanni so well explained.....with so much logic

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're so welcome!

[@elainewood3987]

In 1996 I attended your classes in Clarkesville. My two sons had joined the military six months apart and were gone across the ocean. I was a mess. You are such a good teacher. I won't be famous for my art but you gave me something to focus on and I have enjoyed so much drawing, painting using Prisma color pencils. I just happened upon your videos. Like so many years ago, you are still teaching. I am delighted to find you on KZbin.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Well, well, Elaine! What a treat to meet up with you again on KZbin. I don't remember your being a mess, but a delightful presence. Welcome aboard on this cyber format!

[@tatianacashon2059]

Thank you so much my friend, for so generously sharing your vast wealth of knowledge so others to enjoy painting too. You made a complicated subject easily understood

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure

[@salauddeensyed5295]

Thank you Ma'am, the best tutorial I ever came across on cast shadows...I tried it ...it is like magic...

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure 😊

[@ptaylor4923]

You've got me so into looking at all this, that I found myself also studying the cast shadows of the magnets.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great!

[@jerryladwig2765]

Thank you SO much for this wonderful and clear instruction. I have struggled with shadows for so long. I finally understand how to make them look real. You are a talented teacher! Thank you again!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome! Enjoy the journey.

[@van_creative]

one of the best lessons I've seen on cast shadows. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@zeroconstraints]

Thank you so much for these lessons, you are a great teacher and its always pleasure to watch and learn with you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@24cts]

Thank you - I had an old painting with cast shadows that bugged me. I pulled it back out after watching this video - I am going to Re do the road. Thank you again

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it!

[@24cts]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction I really did --- I played with some different colors for the foreground shadows and those in the distance too. I feel I can now make some more informed color choices!

[@aldadelano6682]

Thank you . I always learn something every time I watch your videos.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@marit4660]

Aha!! Thank you so much for this eye-opening quick tip💡!! I'm still a wee beginner and am muddling my way through (with acrylics). Your QTs are packed with so much valuable instruction, and I also love your teaching style. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Mari! Enjoy the journey!

[@user-bx6wd1yb5s]

One of the most informative and effective videos on the subject on youtube ! Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@59jaguar]

Perfect explanation of shadows and how to paint them. Skin tones on faces would be good to include.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Skin tones on faces change in hue as well. We can use the principles of observation to find these colors.

[@MonicaJamesFineArt]

Dianne. This was an enormously helpful QuickTip. I’m a guilty party of adding black to darken and neutralize. Not any more! Also the three separate examples were so helpful and particularly the last one. Neutral colors are so hard. I’m going to watch it again...and take notes this time. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Great! One thing I appreciate about these Tips being on KZbin is that you can watch them as many times as you like.

[@lorachristian7030]

You are the best color teacher I"ve ever seen!...thank you so much for your in-depth descriptions, they are so helpful to me concerning my paintings!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@boatpeachbed]

You’re fantastic! I sure would have loved to sit in your classes.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Maybe one day! Who knows...

[@lisa-gayle9939]

Diane, THIS video made a lightbulb go off for me! After years of painting and struggling with cast shadows, you’ve taught me how to “observe “ them and relay that observation to the canvas. Thank you for your knowledge and excellent way of teaching! ❤️

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful! It's a pleasure to do these.

[@sophiarevel6952]

I love your quick tip. Sometimes you can't get it dark enough particularly in coloured pencils.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Enjoy the journey, Sophia.

[@pradeepjhuboo9458]

Thank you very much ma'am, the colour wheel can be so helpful most of the time, we don't realise it !

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure

[@lauraven1979]

Thank yououou !!! Colour is my weak point!!! All your videos on colour are super. The way you explain is great !!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for being a subscriber.

[@pms2963]

The best and simplest explanation of cast shadow colour and tone I have yet seen. Ockham's razor does it again. Thanks👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it was helpful! Have fun with it.

[@sameernagi]

Ma'am...Thank you so much for teaching with so much care. I am learning so much by following your tips. You are the best!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's my pleasure. Thanks for your comment.

[@amanda.correa]

Brilliant, thank you so much for sharing this tip!! 🤗

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@edgarallanpoe1822]

Thanx Dianne for bringing the actors on the stage and let them run the show without any kind of theorization

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure! I've always found that theory without action is mere conjecture at best.

[@blessedandbiwithahintofmagic]

Thank you painting grandma - this is exceptional, I never knew this formula for painting cast shadows - match the hue, make it darker and cooler, move towards neutral - thanks!

[@blessedandbiwithahintofmagic]

I would not have understood the cooler or neutral parts - this will help me!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It will be better not to think of this as a formula, but a concept to look for. The concept works because of the way hue responds to light and the absence of light.

[@gavinengelbrecht5534]

Just love your videos ... I have learned so much ... your lessons are succinct, easy to grasp and very illuminating

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks. And thanks for watching.

[@tnah4503]

You are an absolute guru

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

😊

[@jostewart456]

Love these quick tips. Diane is such an inspiration!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Jo!

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

Excellent instruction. A light bulb just went off in my head watching this 😀

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it.

[@karenhoward303]

Oh what a great lesson, thank you Diane, I have had trouble with shadows.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks.

[@LuC1800]

I needed this information for a painting TODAY👍👍👍👍👍😍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful!

[@iCharlesT]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your elaborate videos, great tips and making people’s lives better and more meaningful. I am able to paint more thanks to your tips! All the best!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wow, thank you!

[@MsKTStephenson]

Diane, you're a gem. I am so happy I found your page, I've already learned so much with just a couple of your quick tips vids. Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@atsu8344]

Thanks 🙏🏻 I couldn’t explain how much I appreciate the job you did

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it.

[@SouthernPineJune]

You have helped me tremendously with my struggle to paint cast shadow. Thank you so much!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm so glad! It's my pleasure to share these.

[@joanistotler8804]

As many classes as I've had from you Dianne, I still get something with every QT - great tip!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Joani.

[@RobertHarvey101]

Outstanding!! Well done.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@Lisa-qt4hh]

Brilliant video, you are a great teacher! Thanks a million!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Many thanks!

[@svetlanaproskurovska6795]

Thank you so much! It is the best explanation and demo on the cast shadow colors!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful! Play with this.

[@miriambelanger7292]

Thank you for the invaluable information about cast shadows. I never heard it explained the way that you did, you are a great instructor.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome! Have fun with it!

[@heinzerfurt5225]

Simply great, Dianne. As all of your lessons. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@Aydeet2]

Excellent video. This was so helpful and understandable due to your wonderful teaching. Thank you, Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@deanniasiegmund3636]

Bless you .you never let us down. Watch your videos all the time. I can't go very long then. Then ther i am watching a quick tip🙂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wow, thank you

[@Bhodisatvas]

This is by far the best and simplest explanation of how to achieve this rather tricky idea to grasp, thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@toshawatkins7195]

This is the BEST demonstration of Cast Shadows I've seen. Now I finally get it! THANK YOU for this invaluable info! I feel like I can practice them now. 🤗

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun with it.

[@janakiperera7387]

You explained it so beautifully. Thank you very much. Always had problems with my shadows.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.

[@simonashingletonchaosandth4812]

Found this extremely useful after battling over shadows while painting earlier today. Thank you!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Wonderful! My pleasure.

[@bahaven1896]

Thanks! That was so helpful. I really need to pay more attention to my color wheel! I'm so glad I found you!, Barb

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Barb, to my mind the color wheel is a necessity for the painter. You might benefit from watching other Quick Tips where I show how to use it to think through the mixing of color. You can find the entire list of Quick Tips at kzbin.infovideos

[@evaprsasimonovic1433]

Love your teaching!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you!

[@bk50587]

Such an excellent learning experience. Thank you so much for this.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@ducanhdang9053]

You are an excellent teacher, thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you! 😃

[@toshawatkins7195]

Completely Agree 👍🏽

[@bobbiegraham7729]

Once again, perfect timing. I'm about to paint an abstract in moonlight, backlit trees and grass with shadows in the forefront. Your demo has simplified this for me. Now we just have to see if I can apply the principle to a lot of cool neutrals. Thank you so much. I'm a watercolorist and stepping out of my comfort zone to spark some creativity. It's a no fear painting session, taught by a local oil artist. In acrylic no less! But it will be a good learning experience. And I always come home to do it in watercolor. I love your videos. 🎨

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Bobbie!

[@angelajones9852]

Fantastic, thank you for the explanation, the best I have seen yet.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks!

[@margaretbutters6181]

thankyou love how you set up your colours

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Give it a try, Margaret. It surely saves a lot of guessing while painting.

[@bobbysands5385]

Thank you, again! You're an excellent teacher!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you.

[@paulahudson6305]

Thank you! Your quick tips are so helpful.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome!

[@kubilay7172]

It makes me happy to see the color on the tip of the palette knife matches the color of the picture after mixing. By far the best painting tutorial in youtube. Regards and respect for Dianne. I like your accent🙂

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you!

[@ImpracticalMagic]

This is my first time seeing one of your videos. I love your teaching style! I'm happy to subscribe and I'm looking forward to watching all your tips! Thank you for this wonderful resource🥰

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Welcome aboard, Gina! And thanks!

[@lunadargent5292]

Excellent video Dianne thank you 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻😃

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@PapaRocks]

Excellent video!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you very much!

[@pinkyreddy49]

Am just starting acrylics and You are God sent teacher 🙏🏼. You take time to explain so well and with not just one example shows how selfless you are. Thank you. And thank you for everything you do for ppl like us. Lots of love.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome, Pinky Reddy. It's a pleasure to share these.

[@sarahbradley1653]

This is a valuable source. Thank you!!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Always a pleasure.

[@silviasunesen7649]

Excellent Diane. Thank you very much

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome! It's my pleasure.

[@candacetroystudios]

Wonderful Dianne!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks, Candace!

[@bonniebishop2755]

Thank you for the example. Very helpful as I would not have thought I needed to add cool and warm colors to the shadow. I primarily work in pastel, but am trying to embrace acrylic. I think I would like oil, but don't want to manage it! Thank you again. I'm saving this lesson for sure!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Have fun exploring the possibilities of pastels with this concept.

[@nazaninlabafian675]

I love your teaching. I dont know how thanks you🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

It's my pleasure.

[@katpaints]

Perfect! And thank you! Today is a gray, non-shadow day, so I will have to wait for the sun!. I painted en plein air a lot about 20 years ago with watercolor and for some reason, I never really thought much about shadow color, or maybe it was that I did not struggle a lot with color. That was also before cataracts and that surgery so I was seeing more clearly. I had used large plastic palettes and was able to have huge variations in what I mixed. I could pick up what I needed without really thinking about it. I will have to look through my old paintings to see if shadow color shows up as a problem. Fast forward through health problems, I have been playing a bit with acrylics lately. I haven't used oils or acrylics since the 80s. At the time I did decorative painting and EVERYTHING was spelled out just how to mix and apply color in every area. That meant that I actually copied a whole lot of others' work and almost everything was imaginative - not realistic and almost no shadows. My watercolors were much different - it was all mine, from what was before me, not photos! Now that I have the great desire to use more opaque paint again, I feel so ignorant. I am having to pay more attention to the videos I watch - and actually paint along with them! By the way, I never noticed your color wheel rim before. Did you cut that from a commercial version? I think it is a wonderful idea although my old wheel has faded. If the printer uses fugitive colors, it doesn't help much.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for your comment, Kathleen. How we observe determines what we see. If we are looking for just the images themselves, we might ignore the variations of color caused by light and shadow. That there's your first key. I do cut out those irritating centers when I use commercial color wheels. All that stuff color wheel companies put in the centers are misleading in that they cause you to mix color by formula rather than by hue relationship on the wheel. I do have free color wheels on diannemize.com . Click on Free Stuff in the menu. If your printer uses fugitive ink, you might get it printed at some commercial printing place.

[@katpaints]

@@IntheStudioArtInstruction Yes - I've had sunshine this morning and taking photos of shadows has been interesting - and what I expected. The scene (out my sewing room window) has always had a violet cast because of so many trees causing shadows. That's not true close up, of course, but in general it is. I live in Portland, Oregon, and one thing I've noticed when painting outside (before the term plein air caught on) was that we have a very blue atmosphere. Years ago my oldest went to the Grand Canyon and I was visiting and watching her work on her photos after she returned. She was changing the turquoise sky to what is more like our French Ultramarine! I asked her why she was doing that. She decided that no one up here would believe the color that the sky really was! I laughed. She no longer does that. Oh, and cataracts... we have had had wildfires out here and the skies were terrible for a long time after one that was too close for comfort. Apparently my eyes got worse then and I had not realized the skies were blue again until I got my first eye fixed! I had been seeing smoky green for at least a year!!!

[@seahawk100]

Thank you for your work. ❤👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome

[@henriquejanuario881]

great tips! Thanks for sharing!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@Regbecool]

Thank you! Articulated and explained very well!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@howardfriedland4633]

Very clear and well explained lesson!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Many thanks!

[@211kmeyer]

Fantastic explanation of shadow values & colors!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Many thanks!

[@Freehalllito]

Thank you for the explanation. I love your videos.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks for watching!

[@apronhugsingreeenbay]

I’m learning to use watercolors. This tip is very helpful to me. Thank you.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@MsVerao]

Thank you sooooo much!! You’re the best!!!!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My please! Thanks for being a subscriber.

[@karenwhite4539]

Thank you Diane! Such a good explanation!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure, Karen. Thanks for watching.

[@shamamazhar8460]

Wow! Wonderful lesson. Your video came after very a long time.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thank you! 😃

[@tracyhickman1359]

Brilliant and thankful for this video!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@mizzourita3896]

Cast some light on some cast shadows...I see what you did there ☺️ I love your tips and information, thank you for this

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Always a pleasure.

[@LuC1800]

This is awesome to learn.... 👍👍👍👍👍

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.

[@tylermassas6103]

Awesome thank you 🙏

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You are so welcome

[@jultolentino7515]

Thank you so much mam dianne,i enjoy watching your video ,a clear information about art,god bless,take care.alhamdulilla

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure 😊

[@wiktorwauzchonski6332]

you're videos gave helped me out a lot thank you much appreciated

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@loitermanart]

This is exactly what I needed! Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

You're so welcome!

[@helenwright9933]

Finally, shadows clearly explained, thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure!

[@fayee8986]

Magnificent. Love the video

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@monicastella9149]

Thank you for sharing your tips.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@sherryburnett6088]

Very helpful and clear! Thank you!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure.

[@debbielander454]

This was extremely helpful to me. Sure would like to attach a picture of what I was able to do because of it, but I don't see a way to do it. In any case, it made all the difference in the world and I can't thank you enough for sharing the information with us.

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

I'm delighted it was helpful. No, KZbin doesn't provide a way to share photos.

[@alanclarke5339]

Thanks Dianne x

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

My pleasure, Alan.

[@anushkanayak9424]

This explanation was excellent, !!

[@IntheStudioArtInstruction]

Thanks.