California Dream House

California Dream House

In this lovely composition leading to the Pacific Ocean only the background is lit in sunset light; so the challenge of this work was bringing out the lights and darks as the focal points (the door and succulents) are in shadow. My solution for this challenge was to fill the shadows with imaginative color; exaggerating color temperature changes also helped to add interest. For example, I painted the shadows cast by the planter and mail box cool blue and purple against the warm peach of the plaster walls. Exaggerating the complements orange and blue in the reflections of the glass door and the bright red of the door frame all helped the focal point to stand out. Creative color and value management were key to the success of this piece.