When painting the reflection of a person in a window, remember that window glass is different to a mirror, which produces a sharp. (Sun flowers in a glass pitcher). In this demonstration, I break down the process into 4 steps. The still life masterclass should go live tomorrow morning, I’m just adding the finishing touches now! :), Cheers Ada, pleased you enjoyed the impressionistic tutorial! If we were to paint just using fine lines, you can run the risk that your paintings become too graphic and have an unnatural crispness to their finish. Your instructions are clear and concise, providing an “ahah” moment. Looking forward to hearing how your paintings turn out. • The correct way to load paints: This is another thing that I’m struggling with. your tutorials are great ! Thanks very much Alleen, very kind of you to say so, hope your daughter enjoys the site! Will, Really liked this class ! Best regards, Theresa/Terry Erb. In Part 1 we looked at how to master the basic features of your digital camera, so you can emulate how your eyes see things in nature to give you fantastic. But the process needs a lot of patience to be done. Also noticed that the table shadows to the left of your subject in your painting are played down in comparison to the photo, was this also done to draw the eye to the subject rather than away from it? As an experiment, try covering over the images of a step-by-step tutorial (or have someone else to cover them for you) and then, only using the descriptions the artist/teacher has used to describe the colours they’re using – try to mix the colour. I don’t go to completely white, but am aiming for the lightest tone to match the brightest areas in the photograph, which in this case is the area in the middle of the glass and on the surrounding tabletop. I run across this often and did just recently when I was trying to mix gray tones (not with any black) and all the reference I could find online, when I was looking for gray tones, were “grayed” colors. Can you please clarify this? However, I found the images of both blacks look bluish to me (Mars Black: http://www.dickblick.com/items/00620-2043/; Bone Black: http://www.dickblick.com/items/00620-2103/). It was an excellent class. How can I improve it? You can glaze over the blue bottle to enhance the colours but you don’t have to paint thinly to give the impression of see-through glass. Be it simple windows to more complex shapes like statues, orbs, or objects like ... the highlights and reflections which is what makes it looks like real glass. A stronger mix of Burnt Sienna Using my number 12 round brush I wet the paper all over, except for the area around the window. Learn how your comment data is processed. ‘green’ I now imaging mixing in a touch of yellow to the dull blue in my minds eye. Developing the reflections. Painting on top of the established colour, I added more detailed reflections here. Painting a glass window is always looks very beautiful and is a great choice for many painters and artists. To cancel glare on glass contact Rosco Lighting in New York or Los Angeles, or www.rosco.com. Window Reflections Using Watercolor| Robin Erickson Cityscape Gallery. Still, don't worry, as all you need is to do is achieve the illusion of glass – just enough to convince the viewers. Cannot wait to paint the subject. I want to really get more involved in still life painting and reflections especially with bright colors of fruit and glassware. If you want to take your still life paintings further and learn how to paint more complex reflective surfaces (and discover how simple they can be) you should have a look at the Still life Acrylic Masterclass Course. • Thickness of applied paints: I understand that you have emphasized in several lectures the importance of the right thickness of applied paints. I have used it directly from a tube and tried mixing with red, but never been quite pleased with the hues. but you’ll soon be able to fine tune your colour mixing language. Hi Irina, great to hear from you, thanks so much for your kind comment. From the displays and touchscreens we use to the windows that protect us from the elements in our homes and vehicles, we look at or through glass all day long. Again, the first couple of descriptive words help to set the scene. I enjoy trying the lessons. Thanks. I was struggling a lot in this study. I am going to recommend you to my daughter. But they’re light blue glass. Does anyone know where I might get some information on how to paint a pane of glass? See my youtube clip in how to paint glass with just 3 oil colors. Yes, everything turned out well, meanwhile I somehow …. When painting chrome, if you use a palette of ultramarine blue, burnt umber and white you will be able to paint most of the colours, basically its white, greys and blues, and then whatever colour is reflected in the chrome. I have set up many still lifes with glass but never succeeded despite lots of research. (MBSR) This online MBSR training course is 100% free, created by a fully This painting is quite straightforward and simple but painted this way really gives you an effective painting of glass and water. Cheers, Will. my ” tries ” are awful ( i tried painting a bike too…..yikes ). Just wondering if an asymmetrical background draws attention away from the subject – glass of water. Look forward to the next lesson. HI Will, thanks for the great website, I wanted to know when your masterclass still life course will be available, and will it include more than one demo painting? Lowe's. The good news is that all of these are avoidable if you simply trust your eyes. Tomorrow is my final visual art exam and you have helped me save a lot of time! Paul Jackson shares how to paint the illusion of glass using watercolor. Cheers, Will, Hi, Will, greetings from Moscow. Hold a flat brush in a horizontal position. Really pleased you’ve found the step-by-step photos helpful. One source describes Mars Black as “dense, opaque and with a warm brown undertone”, and I found contradicting descriptions about Ivory Black with one as ” a brown black”, and another “a blue black”. Before you can paint glass with any success, take the time to clean it thoroughly. Peel the back off … Paint all the elements simultaneously. Thank you so much for the great tutorial. Hi Anne, thanks for your kind comments, so pleased you’re finding the decriptions helpful in your painting. Thank you so much! Will. Cheers, Will, Hi Will, thank you so much for this great info – your website is brilliant, full of good tipps! Maybe sky reflection at the top and foliage reflection in the bottom. You’re welcome Su-Marie, pleased it helped for your visual art exam, good luck! Thanks for your kind words, and so pleased you’ve enjoying working through the lessons. Thanks Lori. Using a mix of Yellow Ochre and a touch of Titanium White, I scrub in some of this yellow tone into the background. Cover windows with film to reduce reflections. It was the same on the tram that runs from Roosevelt Island to New York. For more in-depth look at colour mixing simple colour mixing course. Thanks Will, good timing for a great lesson that I can use now. Looking forward to experimenting with acrylics and exploring your site more! With standard glass windows, sunlight reflection rarely causes issues. . You’re a genius. Trains and other moving vehicles have the same problems with windows and reflections. Really hope it helps you achieve a new level of realism in your glass painting. Having the brilliant white underneath adds an underlying glow to the piece and a luminosity to the water. Detail taken from Reflection, Oranges – Still life Masterclass, Will Kemp, Acrylic on board. Now with the whole string of colours ready, you can paint quite quickly working between the tones and scrubbing in the greys. Will; This was great lesson. For the glass drop one colour in the top of the pan and another in the lower part. They make products used by motion picture gaffers ( lighting people ) that can be sprayed on glass, such as windows, to eliminate reflections on motion picture sets. It’s the first for me and must say it is very kind of you to share your knowledge with us. Cheers, Will, I just wanna say thank you for making this tutorial, it is really going to help me with a gift I am making for my dad and for future projects. This helps to subtly bring the background tones together with the rest of the piece. Robin Erickson finds the extraordinary in the ordinary by painting window reflections using watercolor. Conveying the phenomena of reflections in a painting is a matter of observation; of breaking down what you’re painting into shapes and colours, whether it’s glass, foil or a chrome sphere. Hi Dan, if you want to stick with the daler rowney, just mix in a touch of warm red (such as a cadmium red) with your burnt sienna, then introduce the yellow ochre and you’re have a great palette to work with. Regards Chris. Few diagonal or squiggly lines to suggest the surface of the glass. Best regards, Bob, Thanks very much, pleased you’ve found the lesson easy to follow. Through those windows, she sees everyday sights: racks of clothing on display, a pizza maker plying his trade, an empty café table ready for guests. I love muted earth tones that can be readily purchased in student grade , and if possible be able to cover all skin tones with a limited palette ,? lu. Again, I selected the glass part of the window. Thank you very much. Or more brown? I really love art and have been looking all over for tutorials like these that I can easily understand and follow. You’re welcome Connie, pleased you enjoyed it. Then, with fresh clean water, I begin to drop in the burnt sienna mix to create a light wash on the background wall. and then painted the glass before the background. where to look ? The reflections in the salt shaker are things like the bright yellow on the lower left of the glass that occur due to the lemon. Learn how to paint glass and reflections in oil paints in this free online video, with artist Mike Rooney. Artist quality Titanium white  – Invest in this white even if you use student quality paint for the rest of the colours. Cheers, Will. Standard glass windows do not normally create reflections that cause damage to paint. In terms of paint consistency it comes from practicing building up paintings in layers and learning how the paint feels under the brush. Dan McGarigle - El Segundo, California While this product can be a great energy saver, it also has some drawbacks in certain situations.Consider the pros and cons described here before deciding to install a reflective window film in your home. I’m just starting to paint and having trouble with the language of painting. Hi Natalie, so pleased the article helped. Any help and advice would be great thanks Daniel . You’re welcome Virginia, pleased you found the tutorial helpful. Then I can start to use the smaller round brush to paint the spaces either side of the fine rim of the glass. A dull, imperfect mirror, but still a simple mirror. I mean you painted the darkest dark in second layer after warm tone. When painting the reflection of a person in a window, remember that window glass is different to a mirror, which produces a sharp. Painting the dark shadow reflections using a fine point of a number 3 brush, care was taken to leave the white highlights. Usually when describing hues (red hue or blue hue) and tones (how light or dark) of colours the words used before it help to visualize the colour the artist is refering to. Copyright © 2012-2021 Will Kemp Art School | All rights reserved |. Replacement White Bay Window in the Projection Windows department at Lengthen this to five to ten minutes if the reflection will not be distorted much. Characteristics of reflective glass include: It was either too thin and the paint was scumbled out by later applications, such as the darks on both sides, or piled up, such as the whites around the glass. Then I have an idea of the hue being described by the artist. Also, bear in mind that to avoid smudging the glass with your fingers, it’s wise to wear latex gloves while you work. The results are realistic, without getting too hung up on the details within the piece, I really hope you’ve enjoyed the series tackling a perceived tricky subject of reflections and water. Reflections add depth to a painting, which often can memoize the viewer. The way you did it, is it mandatory for painting transparent objects? Keep it up Will…..you are so nice to share your teaching with us!!! Hi, In your previous tutorials, you taught us to establish the darkest dark first. The yellow liquid, the yellow reflection in the glass, and the yellow in the plate need to be painted at the same time. Hi Will, You’re simply amazing! It will include a limited palette study and a more in-depth, complex still life painting. I really enjoy your relaxed & laid back style of teaching, have been attempting to paint for a couple of years but find I’m still at the beginner stage lacking the confidence in my ability. Really interesting tips here. But not too opaque so as to still give the impression that it’s see-through? To speed things up, you can ctrl+click the reflections layer in the previous step instead of using the polygonal tool to reselect all of the glass. Initially I was going for an off centre composition, but when I started the drawing I felt I wanted to concentrate more on the glass and make it more of a study. Your advise was also great. So I suppose I should use a blue wash over the whole bottle? Hi Sherrie, pleased it helped you to better understand the language of colour. Notice how there are still elements of the warmth from the Burnt Umber showing through. 1. When I look at a gorgeous lake scene, I don't think about Physics 101, but all the rules of painting reflections are basic physics. I appreciate all the information you offer. Regards, Terryll, Thanks Terryll, Kind of you to say so. Thanks for another amazing lesson, your skill and the ease with which you explain and demonstrate each stage gives so much encouragement to us all to move forward. Sign up now to get the latest posts, news about products & art inspiration, straight to your inbox. Thanx. I would like to see a demonstration video. Absolute Beginners Water-Mixable Oils Course, Finishing touches. http://anjaessler.blogspot.de/2015/07/und-jetzt-alle-zusammen-and-now-all.html, Wow Anja, they look really fab, love the variety and range you’ve captured within the constraints of the glass and water reflection, great work! Every state has different really appreciate any direction you can point me……it is a gift. Good luck with your painting. The reflective coating is applied during the float process. I just tried this glass tutorial (hope it is okay to use your photo as reference) and think it was very helpful. It’s done with student acrylic (including ivory black )on paper, and flat bristle brushes (an excuse for the terrible eclipse shapes, but right brushes are coming). I now add some final white highlights just using Titanium White, also adding small subtle hints of the green/grey tone onto the very bottom of the glass. There are some common pitfalls to be aware of when drawing reflections. if your windows are big...wet the square...and then paint it and youll see. I’m using a round synthetic brush, dipped in water so it is quite a watery wash. the glass of water seems close, but where can i find instruction to paint these 1″ arms and have them look like chrome and not the mess i come up with. You’re welcome Terry & Theresa, pleased you’ve found it helpful. Begin painting color with most of the light at the bottom of the window fading away as you move towards the top of the win… Also, notice for this particular painting, I haven’t used a coloured ground, I’m just painting straight onto the white canvas. I’ve been asked to give critiques to an art group. I would like to share my painting : https://anyakomart.wordpress.com/2016/08/20/glass-reflections/, Lovely colours in the reflections Anya, and love your loose brushstrokes on the yellow in the background, looks brill. This way by painting up to the rim it’s easier to create a smooth, clean ellipse shape. ;-) Thank you, again! I wish you many blessings! It’s more of a case of looking at the abstract shapes from within the surface. Having this mix between fine lines and painterly brush marks really makes this style of painting work. Hi Lori, To answer your questions: When composing the picture for this tutorial, was the symmetrical background intentional? The ‘bright’ and the ‘vivid’ help to setup the hue of the final colour, in this example ‘green’. They are very knowledgeable. Part 1 of 2 explores blocking in your painting Hi will After taking your advice as written, I purchased burnt umber , ultramarine blue and titanium white . You’ll find the more you mix colours, the more you can start to decode and imagine the colour the artist is talking about. thank you…..i’ll give it a try. You are wonderful!!! Cheers. Thank you for this great lesson. I now put out some Mars Black and using the hog filbert, start blocking in the darker tones to the painting. This was an excellent lesson. i asked this question before, but never saw it addressed. Thanks very much Maria, pleased you’re finding the site helpful. Mix a thin glaze from a gray-toned paint and acrylic fluid or glazing medium. I am looking forward to your lesson that includes orange colour. Connie. thanks Will.I am a beginner and actually finding hard to mix colours and merging.havent used palatte knife or wet palatte.Pls suggest which is the best way to progress as a beginner. thank you, lu states. In terms of the black, Mars black was the one I had on my palette at the time, it does have a nice body to it but Ivory or bone black would also work for the study. The image below is going to be my reference photo to work from for this tutorial. i find that u give words to some things i intuitively know but cannot express and define ideas i have no concept of…what more cd a brand new painter want? Just focus on color, shape, and form. Yes, that’s right, due to the tighter composition crop from the left, we have more mid-tones in the background on the left (rather than the dark) but this allows us a stronger, wider tonal range in the actual subject – concentrating the viewers eye. Hi Linda, I haven’t got a demo video of this tutorial but you might enjoy this copper pot painting that looks at reflective surfaces. Then compare what you thought the mix should look like to the actual demonstration. Start with the obvious, noticeable colors and then use the glazing process to … In this painting, a start was made at the top of one of the glasses (in this case, it's the base of the glass which is, of course, standing upside down). Use a pipette to drop paint onto the surface for small designs, then use a paintbrush to spread the paint where you need it. In Part 1 we looked at how to master the basic features of your digital camera, so you can emulate how your eyes see things in nature to give you fantastic reference photographs for your still life painting. Looks brilliant Ping! Thank you so much !! legisla... Shop ReliaBilt 3500 Series 91.25-in x 59.25-in Double-hung Vinyl I mention the use of white instead of a coloured ground in the article above: Also notice for this particular painting, I haven’t used a coloured ground, I’m just painting straight onto the white canvas. If the glass is empty, focus on each specific color, paying close attention to each color shift. I admire the way you explain & demonstrate your subject & make it look so easy to understand that it inspires one to actually have a go. I also added the reflection from the window and kept the very light areas of the jug’s base quite abstract. The glass in the tram had so many reflections it wasn’t worth trying to get any photos. Try to image you’re mixing the colours as you read the descriptions. If the reflection is in a mirror, the image should be allowed to dry for at least 30 minutes before continuing. Great to hear it Anna, really pleased you enjoyed the series. i need to paint chrome arms in acrylic on a 50’s chair on canvas. Thanks for the lesson. I'll either set up something outside in the sun or I'll use light coming through the window. Image Source. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Looking forward to hearing how paintings turn out. Learning how to paint reflections in acrylics is an excellent skill to have. As a frustrated beginner I so appreciate Willl’s great demonstrations. It’ll keep me on schedule and offer real steps they can take to grow their work. You are such a generous person, and I can’t express in words how much I appreciate you. Reflections come directly toward the viewer. Cheers, Will. Good one Kelly, so pleased you enjoyed it. Use these images as a guide as you paint a palm frond. Reflections - whether in water, a window, or the surface of a shiny object ... around or across the surface of the reflecting object as if it were flat-painted. As stated in the post 4 things you need to turn paint into reality, accurate drawing is the essential first step. If you would like to paint glass, whether its glassware, a window, a vase or a jar there are a few things to know ask yourself before you start. So don't even think about the fact that you are painting a glass object. I make a more muted mix using the Yellow ochre, Titanium white and a touch of the black. A dilute mix of Burnt Sienna with a touch of Cad Yellow and Cad Red to produce a warm beige. Really loved that also. Thanks – exactly what I was looking for :) I was wanting to paint a couple of glass bottles. So paint the green bits of the plate, the green parts of the glass, the green bits in the glass stems at the same time. Are there any exercises devised in particular for practicing it? I enjoyed the lesson on how you painted the cherry. Great tutorial Will! The picture I want to paint does not have a reflection. fantastic! Hi Felicia, great to hear from you, and so pleased you’re enjoying the tutorials and feeling inspired to create! I have to say you are a really good teacher, you make it easy. I introduce a warmer red and bring in, Increasing the contrast I’m now contrasting th, How to Paint a Warm & Cool Still Life Painting (Using only 2 Colours) Part 1 of 3, How to paint light & shade in Acrylics (Part 3 of 3 – Videos), https://anyakomart.wordpress.com/2016/08/20/glass-reflections/, https://photos.app.goo.gl/nSJ0cnuL9ekkKRbp1, http://www.dickblick.com/items/00620-2043/, http://www.dickblick.com/items/00620-2103/, Size 6 Black Hog Oil brush from Jackson Arts – filbert. Cheers. One of the things that I most enjoy is the challenge of rendering different surfaces, conveying my fascination with the interplay of light and reflections. Thanks Sherrie, really kind of you to say so. Hi Will, When composing the picture for this tutorial, was the symmetrical background intentional? The last thing to do is to bri, Adding red. This painting is quite straightforward and simple but painted this way really gives you an effective painting of glass and water. Cheers, Will. Just using Burnt umber, I wash in any areas in the picture where I can see a slight warm glow. I’m keeping the paint at a reasonable thickness to cover over the white and to give me enough paint so I can mix it with the other tones whilst they’re still wet. Use hot and soapy water in combination with a clean cotton cloth. This superfine line will help to add refinement to the painting, even though a lot of the earlier painting is quite gestural. Thanks for your visual demo’s they are so much more helpful!! Draw your design with lead paint or permanent marker, or lay a sticky stencil onto the glass. Hi, Will! Reflective glass is clear or tinted glass that has a very thin layer of metal or metallic oxide on the surface. Glass, thar elusive nothingness with substance! For example, “gray-green tones”…I don’t see the “green”?? For windows that need to be reflection free, like shopfronts, gallery display cases, or architectural windows, anti reflective coatings are used. Few diagonal or squiggly lines to suggest the surface of the glass. Thank you very much Will. If you’re just starting painting, working with a stay-wet palette can help to keep the colour strings wet when you first mix them making your painting quicker after you’ve made the initial mixes. I now mix a colour string using Titanium white and the Mars black. If I describe a colour as a ‘dull muted green’. I learn so much that I can use when I make my painting efforts. The issue lies in the sun’s reflection when it bounces away to another property, leading to legal issues and damages. Cheers, Will, Hi Will, This is the best glass painting demo I have ever come across. I very much like encouraging the artists and giving them some tips so that they will keep working rather than throwing in the towel in frustration because they don’t know where to go for specific help. Thanks, Will for all the wonderful information you share with us. Conveying the phenomena of reflections in a painting is a matter ... painting into shapes and colours, whether it's glass, foil or a chrome sphere. Will. Think of the lake as a mirror. That's all it is before we start adding ripples. certif... How To Paint Reflections On GLASS WINDOWS, How To Remove Adhesive From GLASS WINDOWS, How To Replace Broken WINDOW GLASS Aluminum Frame, Home Interior Exterior Decor & Design Ideas, Reliabilt 3500 Double-Hung Vinyl Replacement White Bay WINDOW. Painting a window pane of glass/reflection. Pick up some adhesive window film online or from a craft store. It is very important that such displays are not blocked by reflections, especially for equipment like medical instrumentation.