The importance of light direction in painting
Highlights and shadows must be consistent on every object in your painting - one mistake and the painting will look 'off'
Before you start a landscape painting, the first question to ask yourself is from what direction the light is coming. Give this some thought, even before you have blocked in your main shapes. If you are painting plein air then this will be obvious, but you still need to be observant of the direction of light and shadows. If you are painting in the studio, you must keep the direction of light in mind at all times.
The direction of the light - in a landscape this will usually be the sun - will decide where you will place your highlights. Even if the sun is not visible in the painting, it should be obvious where it is. The brightest spots on an object indicate the direction the light is coming from.
This will also determine where your form shadows will be - positioned away from the light source. To create a realistic painting, you must ensure all objects show highlights and shadows based on the same consistent light source direction. Imagine the light as a direct beam travelling in a straight line, hitting every object in its path and creating the highlights and shadows of your artwork.
Also consider the intensity. Strong, direct light on a sunny day produces more intense highlights and also sharper shadows. Less intense light of dawn or dusk or an overcast day produces softer shadows. These must be consistent throughout the painting.
It is worth taking the time to get this right. Getting the light direction and shadows right will give your art a more professional look.
Happy painting
In this painting the sunlight is directly overhead hitting the sand and the water. b