"Snow Canyon Cliffs I" 9x12, oil - SOLDWe are back at Kayenta, near Ivins, Utah, teaching a workshop this week. Although we've had some weather the last two days that forced us in and out of the studio, today was ideal. Abundant sunshine ruled with pleasant temperatures and just the smallest of breezes.
We went out to Snow Canyon to focus on shadow temperature. Between the red rock walls and the strong, mid-day sun, we had some good warm shadows. Why? The light at mid-day tends to look cooler than it does during the earlier and later parts of the day. So, a cool light will invoke warm shadows - especially with red rock. On the demonstration above, you can see how the sunlit portions are a cool pink, while the shadows are a warm brown verging on orange.
The second piece (below), the light was shifting during the late afternoon and growing warmer. As the light warmed up, a cooler, red-violet worked its way into the shadows. Here you can see the warm, almost orange sunlit rock with the more violet shadows.
"Snow Canyon Cliffs II" 5x7, oil
