Windsong January Morning plays with the light on snow. This small sketch is on a cadmium red light ground. The red shines through the cool and opaque upper layers.

The color is illusive.

The most interesting part of painting light is playing with color theory and the qualities of the pigments. I have learned how to play with color from my years of teaching and painting. Color is like life – the more interesting results come from blending and layering unsuspecting opposites.

Knowing about the qualities of pigments – their temperature and opacity – makes the chemistry more fun. Snow is an incredible challenge. It glows. Painting on the warm ground lets warmth shine through.