I have a reflection and some questions. Walking home the other day it suddenly appeared to me that there were barely any shadows around me. And yet so many picturesque things to paint, while looking at them I thought, so where and how would I paint the shadows on this subject (it was an old cottage with beautiful trees around).

Then I have realised that sometimes when I would paint, I would get carried away with painting clouds (which would change my shadows... DOH!) but then I would paint the landscape / subject as it was - for example during sunnier day.

Many times I saw paintings where there was no shadows visible, and yet nice bright sky with no clouds, but somehow never noticed it other way around.

Do you notice those things? I sometimes do have a problem with noticing the temperature of the shadow, and then wonder - 2 d paper might need different approach, to what we see in real life, as many other aspects do in painting on paper.

Another question, would you add the shadows during a cloudy or gloomy day, just to make the difference within that painting? I think shadows play extraordinary role in making the painting more 'real' and 3 d!

Thanks! 😊