The Arts House

— Exploring how colour can create light, depth, atmosphere, and richness in painting

If your eyes can’t see the colour in light and shadow, how do you know what to paint? And how can you confidently imagine and create lighting that isn’t there? We all face the same challenge which is light and shadow. Whether you’re painting from life, working from a photo, or creating a scene from your imagination, we can see the light and shadow, but we don’t always know what colours to choose, especially when the colours we need aren’t obvious to the eye.

In this workshop, we’ll explore how light source colour, local colour, reflected environmental colour, and complementary colour relationships work together to create the colours we see in light and shadow. From these relationships, you will develop a practical visual decision-making framework to better understand how colour and light interact, and apply it to objects under different lighting conditions.

The goal is to understand these relationships well enough to imagine light and shadow, adapt your color choices to different light sources and environment, and combine them with your own colour palette and visual language.

What You’ll Learn

• How light and shadow change the color and saturation of an object
• How surrounding colours influence the colors we see in light and shadow
• How complementary colour relationships affect shadow colour
• How to apply these relationships when painting from observation, photos, or imagination

Explore how colour can create light, depth, atmosphere, and richness in painting.

For beginner to intermediate painters with some basic drawing and colour-mixing experience.

Materials: We’ll primarily use acrylic paint for the hands-on exercises, but watercolour artists are also welcome. The principles of light and colour we’ll explore can be applied across different painting mediums. You’re welcome to bring your own supplies, especially your favourite brushes or tools you’re most comfortable working with.

Art House will provide:

• Basic canvases
• Easels
• Basic acrylic paints
• Water containers
• Basic palettes and brushes

If you prefer to bring your own canvas, please choose a size no smaller than 8" × 10"; and no larger than 16" × 20".

Note: You are welcome to pay via e-transfer or cash, remember that your spot is not confirmed till payment is received. E-transfer to AntigonishArtFair@gmail.com OR you can pay cash in person during office hours (Tue & Thur, between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm). Email us to begin process, thank you.

Cash can be paid in person during office hours (Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)