Loadsa arty stuff, the June McEwan way: How to: Paint Weather Effects

June McEwan 8 Mitchell St Crieff PH7 3AG

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HOW-TO : Paint Weather Effects

Weather conditions play an important role in the creation of atmosphere and mood in landscape painting. Photographs can show weather effects, but to really capture the mood, there's no substitute for being out in the elements, even if it means drawing from the comfort of your car. Bad weather means you are forced to react spontaneously to what you see, feel, smell and hear subconciously. Respond to your feelings and use the paints qualities to your advantage.I always remember the 1970's advert of a watercolourist in a poppy field, who started out with an analytical image which became flooded when rain poured onto it, thus creating a beautifully atmospheric piece of work!

Rain

You can indicate falling rain by using diagonal strokes or you can simply soften up the image using wet in wet and keeping tones diffused and the sky dark. Although grey may be the dominant colour, make them using blues, yellows and purples. Avoid black and white.

Fog and Mist

Usually misty days create a haunting sense of landscape. Turner is unequalled in the depiction of this type of weather. Fog and mist minimise detail and tonal contrasts, so keep your painting soft, hazy and harmonious. Use watercolour wet in wet and lift out techniques. With oils, use scumbling, blending.

Snow and Ice

The first thing to say about snow and ice is that it is not white! Like water, it reflects it's surroundings.You may see it as purple or yellow depending on the time of day. The most atmospheric paintings of snow contain lots of shadows with sun hitting small areas. When shadows are used to good effect, the areas the sun hit seem dazzling. Remember that snow softens forms and so keepyour painting diffused. Keep the shadows airy and colours clean. Splatter effects describe falling snow very well.

Stormy Weather

If you wish to focus attention on a dramatic, stormy sky, keep the horizon line low. This leaves plenty room for sky and makes the landscape below a secondary feature. Intensify sky colour to heighten mood. Use strong, sweeping directional brush strokes to describe wind and be decisive with tones – use dark and lights without compromise.

Sunshine

To get the feel of sunshine, balance colours. Everything the sun hits becomes lighter and warm in tone, while shadows look cool, blue and deep. Intense sunlight diminishes sharp details, so use soft brush strokes, play up the shadows because light looks brighter when surrounded by darks.