Lesson 6: Capturing the Perfect Highlights in the Horse's Mane and Coat
In this lesson, we delve a little deeper into the steps behind creating a striking highlight. Highlights, especially in a backlit piece like this one, are all about layering your paint in a way that will have the most exciting effect on your viewer. This entry is all about capturing that moment when sunlight dances through the mane.
Starting with the Subtle Glow of Mane Highlights
To begin, I mix a soft highlight for the mane. I want to create a value just below white, since adding bright white too early can look stark and artificial. This shade will serve as the mid-tone for my highlighted areas, leaving room for me to punch the highlight up at the very end with a dash of pure white straight from the tube.
Watch my MasterDemo to learn more.
Fine-Tuning the Shade with French Ultramarine
Don’t forget, even the warmest of highlight might need a touch of an opposing color to bring it down to earth. If your warm highlights start looking too peachy, you can take a color from the opposite side of the color wheel and bring the color a little closer to neutral. For warm highlights like these, a tiny bit of French Ultramarine can be just what you need.
Crafting the “Halo Effect” at the Mane’s Edge
Edges are some of the most important tools you have for conveying information to your viewer. The mane’s edge where it meets the sky, is where I want that “halo effect” of the sun to really come through. By keeping in mind how the sun interacts with the translucent hair, I can plan ahead and make sure that I have the right transition shades to convey that glow when I start painting.
The Art of Not Overworking the Highlights
Highlights can be tricky. Adding too much white can flatten the color, leading to a chalky effect that’s hard to undo. As with any step in Alla Prima painting, the key here is in knowing when to stop—Resisting the urge to “perfect” each shade is essential to keeping your colors alive and vibrant.
Watch my MasterDemo to learn more.
