Spot Colors

Triangulate spot colors in a painting; that is, place a high-chroma accent color in three places to create a sense of balance.

Sunlight green

Mix sunlight green using cadmium yellow and a tiny bit of phthalocyanine green and white.

Measure Colors

As you work, continually measure similar colors against one another. For instance, make sure that your most orange red in the painting is the most orange red in the subject, and so on. If the colors line up in the same order in the painting as in the subject, then you will create light.

Painting Water

To give water a glassy look, paint reflections with vertical strokes.

Value Patterns

Ask yourself, Does the initial abstract value pattern still read clearly?

Painting at Night

The moon is cooler on top and warmer on the bottom during moonrises because there is more atmosphere below it than there is above it.

Shadows

You can have bright colors, but you have to have a sinister, mysterious side, and some shadows. It's just like you have to have an adversary to show the virtue of a hero.

Hard Edges

Hard edges command attention. As a general rule, keep them in and around your center of interest.

Local Colors

Think beyond local colors. You are recreating a visual impression, not a literal description.