Shadows, Reflections, and Painting Trees in Overcast Light
Depict the cause of every shadow and reflection, and choose a covered sky to light the countryside evenly
This text-only page gives two rules for the painter. The first, on shadow in bodies, urges always depicting the cause of a shadow or reflected light, since dark shadows are born of dark objects and reflected lights of dimly bright ones, in a fixed proportion to their sources. The second, on trees and their light, recommends choosing an overcast sky so that the countryside receives a universal light rather than the sun's particular light, which cuts sharp shadows very different from the lights. The page is written in mirror script.
On this page
Always show the cause of a shadow or reflected light
When depicting dark shadows in shadowed bodies, always depict the cause of that darkness, and do the same with reflected lights. Dark shadows arise from dark objects and reflected lights from objects of slight brightness, the ratio of a lit part to a part brightened by reflection matching the ratio of the light's source to the reflection's source.
Paint the countryside under a universal light
The true and practical way to depict the fields and countryside with their plants is to choose a sky where the sun is covered over, so the fields receive a universal light rather than the sun's particular light, which makes sharp-cut shadows very different from the lights.