Cast Shadow Soft Edge

clare19

Does anyone have any good resources or advice for painting a cast shadow with soft edge? When I try to soften the edges I’m smearing. I can’t do a soft blend which is necessary for this edge. Using Geneva paint and Rosemary Ivory filbert brushes. Do I need a particular brush? 

This is my first proper oil painting so any advice appreciated 😁 

clare19

Boudicca

The ivory filbert is probably too stiff for such a soft edge. I would let the paint set up for a day or two then use a softer brush to do the edges. Another method is to use your finger in a light tapping motion.

dencal

clare19

Very soft edge: Starting with two adjacent wet values, use a clean, dry bristle brush to zig-zag across the boundary. Use same brush to lightly smooth away the zig-zag pattern with strokes parallel to the edge.

Soft edge: Starting with two adjacent wet values, use a clean, dry bristle brush to gently caress the edge line with parallel strokes until the desired degree of softening is achieved.

A bit of rehearsal on a spare canvas goes a long way.

Denis

clare19

Thank you @Boudicca and @dencal, I can see where both methods will come in useful. I have a softer brush, although it’s quite small. 

This whole exercise with the cup I’m seeing as a rehearsal. I don’t mind if it’s not perfect as it’s just on a cheap canvas board. If I mess it up a bit while I’m learning, that’s ok. I need to start somewhere. 

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lisak

This is awesome, Clare! What a success!

Kaustav

You can use nylon watercolor brushes. But this looks amazing

clare19

I should have clarified. That's the reference photo - not my painting 🙈 I wanted to show the shadow so you knew what I was talking about. It's probably not clear on a smaller screen. 

clare19

@Kaustav thank you. I didn't think to try the watercolour brushes. 

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clare19

Actual painting! I’ve tried to blend the shadow a bit but I think I’m just making things muddy at this stage. I can also see that I’ve bumped the back rim up out of shape when adding my blacks back in. 

My hands are shaky so I feel that every time I “fix” I add a new problem. 

MikeDerby

Very nice.  With two wet edges, I like to tap with a soft brush.  It should be sized to the amount of softening desired.

clare19

Thanks @MikeDerby. I need some bigger soft brushes. A no 2 is just smearing this much wet paint. 

MikeDerby

It also helps to have a full bodied paint.  If you are using Geneva you will want to let it sit out for several days before use.  The smearing and lifting of the paint is generally because it is too thin.

clare19

Thanks @MikeDerby I’m going to play around on my failed Venice scene painting today with the leftover paint on the palette. It’s sitting out for days now. I used water mixable Daler Rowley pretty much from the tube with some mineral spirits so I shouldn’t need to add any linseed oil. 

MikeDerby

Ah. That might explain it. By the time you get to the blending phase, less OMS and more oil, and then only sparingly, will produce better results. You could even let it dry, do not oil it out, and then scumble in the blur