A Painter's Guide to Observing Light

Light is the heart of any painting, shaping mood, depth, and realism—especially in landscapes. Understanding how light behaves and interacts with objects will transform the way you see and how you paint.

In this course, you’ll develop a strong understanding of primary (sun) and secondary (sky) light sources, learn how they create shadows, bounce light, and temperature shifts. Through guided exercises and real-world examples, you'll sharpen your ability to observe and capture the subtle nuances of light, making your paintings more compelling and dynamic.

The course features in-depth demonstrations using still life setups—an essential training ground before tackling plein air painting. We'll work through both simple and complex forms, exploring the balance of warm and cool tones, and mastering bounce light to create realistic, visually arresting compositions.

By the end of this course, you'll have a deeper understanding of how light works, allowing you to paint with greater confidence and accuracy.

Course Includes:

• 2.5+ hours of instructional video content
• Lecture materials based on live workshops
• Exercises to practice at home
• 2 real-time demos of gouache painting
• Example images to work from

Why Learn With Judd?

Judd Mercer is a contemporary landscape painter and Colorado native obsessed with telling stories through light. Judd's teaching style is engaging, fast-paced, and packed full of practical tips to improve any painting practice.

Questions

If you have any questions about this material or what it contains, please email juddmercer@gmail.com.

Refund Policy

Not sure? Don't worry. If you are unsatisfied I'll refund you 100%. All I'd ask is for feedback on how I might make things better :).

You might also consider other Beginner Courses: