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How to get beautiful color in your paintings
The secret to harmonious color in painting is simple --
Light has a color. Shadow has a color. They tend to be complementary.*
Why haven't you noticed this, you ask? Our brain endeavors to determine the "real" color of objects, so the color-changing effect of light and shadow is stripped out. This feature of perception is called "Color Constancy." (Google color constancy to learn more.) Color constancy is why the color of the light is difficult to see -- because our brain disregards it. But if you look for it, it is there.
Here's a short Youtube video I made which points out the complimentary relationship of light and shadow found in everyday life -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHVaVsiBjbo
How can you explore this effect? To see it for yourself, buy a colored light at the hardware store. Try a red or green bulb because these are unusual light colors and therefore easier to notice the effect. Shine the colored light on white objects first, then progress on colored objects. How does the light change the lit side? How does the shadow change the unlit side?
Happy studying!
* The shadow tints the object toward the color complement of the light unless light is bouncing into the shadow.
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