Painter's Palette, Light, Shadow & Color - 1.2 Michael Orwick - Painting lessons, demonstrations

Hope you liked this video. Subscribe for more. Portfolio Site And upcoming classes - www.michaelorwick.com Curated Storefront - www.orwickarts.com Facebook art page -   / michaelorwickarts   As a painter, the effects of light and atmosphere are what I remember about a location and what inspires me most. Light transforms the ordinary or even beautiful into the exceptional. I aim to capture these fleeting moments and help people see things again through new eyes. 1.1 Why Color Matters in Oil Painting Color is more than decoration; it is a language. It shapes mood, directs attention, and defines form. Understanding how light and pigment interact gives artists control over emotional tone and visual impact. 1.2 The Science of Color Light & Wavelengths: Every visible color corresponds to a wavelength. Blue has shorter wavelengths; red has longer ones. Light conditions influence how we perceive color. Pigment Behavior: Oil pigments are particles suspended in oil. Their chemistry determines opacity, transparency, tinting strength, and mixing behavior. Contextual Perception: A color changes depending on what surrounds it. This is why a gray can look warm next to blue and cool next to orange. Why Some Oil Paint Colors Are Transparent and Others Are Opaque Oil paint transparency isn’t about the oil—it’s about the pigment itself. Different pigments have different physical and chemical structures, and those structures determine how light passes through them. 1. Pigment Particle Size & Structure Transparent colors (like Indian Yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Phthalo Blue) have very small, finely structured particles. Light can pass through these particles instead of bouncing back, so the color looks see‑through. Opaque colors (like Titanium White, Cadmium Red, Yellow Ochre) have larger or more irregular particles. These scatter and reflect light strongly, making the paint look solid and covering. 2. Natural vs. Synthetic Pigments Some pigments—especially modern synthetic ones—are naturally transparent because of how they’re made. Earth pigments and cadmiums tend to be naturally opaque. 3. Oil Paint Formulation Even the same pigment can shift slightly depending on: How much pigment is in the paint how finely it’s ground the type of oil used But the pigment itself is the main factor. 4. Why This Matters for Painters Transparent colors are perfect for glazing, depth, glow, and luminous shadows. Opaque colors are great for strong highlights, solid shapes, and covering layers. Many painters combine both to build rich, dimensional surfaces.