Outdoor lighting

[Brian Neher]

I just wanted to thank all of the artists for their kind words of inspiration. I am adding two more outdoor portraits to this post for those that are interested. I wish you all the best. Take care.

[Cindy Procious]

Brian, your work is fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing, and welcome to the forum.

Any chance of you treating us to some choice details??

I see SO much color in your work, but it's all so beautifully subtle - I'd love to study some close-ups.

[Brian Neher]

Hi, Cindy. Thank you for your kind words. I will take some close ups of portraits that I am currently working on and post them in the near future.

As far as the subtlety of color goes, it is an important tool in getting color to work in a painting. By keeping your colors somewhat subdued, or slightly grayed down, you reserve more of your pure colors in case you need them later in the painting. I have found that it is easier for me to start a painting a bit brighter and warmer in color and then gray it down as I go along by adding complimentary colors. It seems to be easier to cool a color down with its compliment then to try and work in color into a grayed area. Color relationships are similar to value relationships, in that a color appears more brilliant or more subdued according to the other colors that are on your canvas. You can key your painting higher in color (brighter, more brilliant color) or lower in color (grayer, subdued colors) in much the same way that you would key a painting higher or lower in value. Just because you have a wide spectrum of colors to work with doesn't mean that you have to use all of them in your painting in order to convey what you are trying to say. The same goes for values. You do not have to use every value from black to white in every painting. If you compare this to music you could think of it this way: You don't need to use every note on the scale in order to write a song. Some of the most memorable songs are the simple ones that we find ourselves humming throughout the day. I hope that this will be of some use to you. Take care.

[Brian Neher]

Here are a few more outdoor portraits.

[Cindy Procious]

I always get excited when I see you've posted, Brian! These latest are so beautiful. I especially love the last one - and thank you for the detail shot!

You have such a faciltiy with portraying atmosphere - I literally find myself squinting as though I was in the sun right with these kids.

Thanks for sharing.

[Julie Deane]

Wow, Brian!

[Michele Rushworth]

Great work, Brian! I was glad to have the opportunity to see the last one in person at the PBA conference. The hair just sparkles and is so soft it makes you want to touch it. (It was great to see you again, too!)