Here is a simple solution to putting the right color shadows into your paintings. I try to make my lesson simple so you don't have to over analyze and over think what colors to use when painting shadows.

 

First thing you need to paint is the area that you will be applying the shadow to. Let's say that the color of the area or object you painted is light green. When you put a shadow on that object or area it simply should be a darker Green. Don't worry about reflected color or even if it is warm or cool just simply put down a darker color of the original color on the object or area. 

If after you put down the shadow color and you decide it needs a reflective color or a warm or cool color you can do that after you first put down the darker color of the original color.

 

Keep it simple... if the object is blue put down a darker blue. Now I hear you asking me how much darker do you need to make the shadow. That is not as simple to answer because it all depends on how strong the light shines on the object that is throwing the shadow or in the shadow. Keep it simple at first and just make the darker color slightly darker then the original color and if it seems to light just darken it.

 

Now I hear you asking me what happens if the original color is white, what color should I use to darken a white. This is a great question because white happens to be the only color where you can make the shadow color anything you would like, but it should match some of the other colors in the painting so the shadows don't stick out like a sore thumb. If you check out the painting below of the market and you see the white sheet hanging over the people, notice I used orange for the shadow of the underside. With white, you can make your shadow any color.

Have fun and keep it simple!

David