Fake Cloud (or why you need to leave things out of a landscape painting)

Picturesque cloud stretching high above, a sea of calm grey-blue rhythms, and parts of the band of islands that is the Outer Hebrides. As paintable as it comes.

Except for one thing. And I don’t mean the patch of pines poking in on the left.

It’s that improbable bit of sun-light cloud on top of the island.

Solutions:
1. Leave it out if you know the shape of the island.
2. Omit the sunshine on it if you don’t.

3 Replies to “Fake Cloud (or why you need to leave things out of a landscape painting)”

  1. Often clouds are essential to the composition and the mood. But sometimes the camera emphasizes things we don?t expect, or fails to capture what the eye sees. I use photos for reference, but never try to replicate them.

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