Light is rarely neutral. Understanding the relationship between your light source and your shadows is the key to realism:
Under direct sunlight or a warm incandescent bulb, your shadows will lean toward cool violets and blues. 3. Local Color vs. Perceived Color Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter
Realism doesn't mean flat, blended surfaces. If you look closely at a skin tone or a stone wall, it isn't one solid beige. It is a vibrating field of varied hues. Light is rarely neutral
Light bouncing off the floor or nearby objects into the shadow. Crucial tip: Reflected light should never be as bright as the areas in direct light. 2. Color Temperature: The Great Balancer Local Color vs
Beginners often make colors too bright. In nature, most colors are quite "greyed out."
Here is a foundational guide to how light and color work together for the realist painter. 1. The Hierarchy of Light