Tavira, Algarve, 10 - The challenge of painting with the light behind you.

Tavira, Portugal, 15" x 11".

I try to keep telling myself, never paint a scene with a strong light behind you and well here I go again.  It's difficult to get that light and shade contrast which is so much easier with light coming from the side or coming towards you.  Anyway in this one I have tried to put the white clothed gentleman against a dark shadow, so maybe I have got a bit of a focal point here.  The other difficulty is the shadow of a figure - it gets hidden somewhere round their feet and you try to slip it in there as best you can.

 

Comments

[Doug]

I think you solved the problem Tim by putting the sun to the left a little.

[Derek Russell]

this is awesome! love it and especially the way you brought the man in white forward with dark background behind him. great work

[Tim Wilmot]

Thank you very much Derek. That white figure took a bit of careful planning to see where the shadows would go.

[Tim Wilmot]

Thank you Doug!