First Light - Reference Photo & Introduction

Welcome to First Light. This three-part tutorial is based on an early morning scene in Grand Teton National Park. What first caught my attention was the soft warm light touching the distant mountains and appearing again in the foreground stream. This painting is also a good study in creating depth, beginning with the dark foreground trees and reddish willows, moving through the smaller shapes of the middle ground, and finally reaching the illuminated mountains in the distance. As we work through the painting, I’ll show you how changes in value, color, and temperature help separate those areas and create a sense of distance. If you’d like to paint along with me, you can download the reference photograph below and keep it open on your screen or print a copy to use while you paint.