Painting the Elements

Book excerpt: Come rain or come shine ... with this expert, all-weather advice, any day is a perfect day for painting! There is more to life (and landscape painting!) than a perfect, sunny day. In this book, 8 "seasoned" artists share their favorite tips for capturing the look and feel of the elements in oil, acrylic and watercolor. You'll learn to paint sunrise to sunset, rain or shine, summer through winter ... and every type of atmospheric condition in between. Get expert advice for evoking a thrilling range of moods, including: clear, sunny days • morning fogs • cloudy skies • snowy scenes • sunrises • sunsets • sultry summer days • morning light • autumn days • overcast days • thunderstorms • rain • twilight • moonlight • mountain mist • morning light • dappled sunlight with lively shadows • sunlight streaming through clouds or foliage • and more! A series of 18 step-by-step demonstrations show you how to use color, the principals of design, the power of light, and other artistic tools to dramatize and harmonize the feeling of weather throughout your entire scene. Learn how to paint skies that set the mood. Tune in to key differences between the light at different times of the day, and throughout the various seasons. Discover special techniques that allow the magic of a summer day or the bite of a winter's eve to shine forth. Many inspiring examples of landscape art illustrate how—through the eyes of an artist—every face of nature presents exciting expressive opportunities. Don't just brave the elements, embrace them!