Exploring Color, Edges and Movement: Painting Fireworks
A visual spectacle of a fireworks display can be an inspiring sight. Fireworks are powerful subjects, not only for the symbolism and narrative themes, but for the opportunity to explore formal aspects like color, edges and movement. If you’re inspired to paint fireworks and need help getting started, here’s my step-by-step process.
Note: While a reference image can be helpful as a guide, the primary focus of this study is to explore the interplay of color, edges and movement within the composition.
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Artist’s Toolkit
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OIL PAINTS: titanium white, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, ultramarine blue, quinacridone magenta
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SURFACE: 9×12-inch Legion Oil Paper
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BRUSHES: No. 4 filbert, No. 12 mop, makeup brush
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ADDITIONAL: odorless solvent, paper towels, color shaper
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Utrecht Oils
Oil Brushes
Oil Paper
Step 1: Colorful Toning
To begin, I lay down thin layers of pure cadmium yellow, quinacridone magenta, ultramarine blue and yellow ochre. By using these colors, I create a toned surface that sets the foundation for the vibrant fireworks to come. The thin layers allow the initial colors to peek through, adding depth and richness to the subsequent layers.
Step 2: Block-in the Darks
Next, I focus on blocking-in the dark shapes of the fireworks, emphasizing larger forms and the composition. This step sets the stage for the bursts of color and light that will illuminate the canvas. By prioritizing the dark shapes, I create a strong contrast that enhances the visual impact of the fireworks.
Step 3: Focus on Smoke and Clouds
In this step, I concentrate on building the forms of the smoke and clouds surrounding the fireworks. Observe the average colors within these forms, carefully studying the variety of hues present. Highlights are intentionally saved for later stages to ensure a sense of luminosity and three-dimensionality. Throughout this step, I pay close attention to the subtle color shifts between blue, magenta and yellow, capturing the ethereal quality of the smoke and clouds.
Step 4: Refine the Edges
As the study progresses, I darken the background to emphasize the contrast between the brighter colors of the fireworks and the atmospheric backdrop. Defining the edges between these vibrant colors and the dark background is crucial to creating a sense of depth and realism. To achieve this, I experiment with a variety of techniques like scumbling, scraping and smudging. This creates variety in the brushwork and accentuates the movements of the smoke and fireworks. These techniques further enhance the overall dynamic movement of the fireworks.
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Step 5: Add the Final Details
In the final step of this fireworks study, I use a color shaper to lift finer highlights and details. This reveals the lighter and brighter colors established in Step 1. A color shaper is a versatile tool that allows for precise control over the scraping of paint, creating subtle highlights and adding a touch of brilliance to the composition.
Using the color shaper, I lift paint in selected areas to emphasize the glow and luminosity of the fireworks. By revealing the underlying tones, the highlights become more pronounced, adding depth and dimension to the painting.
To enhance the overall fireworks display, additional bursts can be added by using small dots of pure color and titanium white paint. These carefully placed dots capture the explosive nature of fireworks and add a sense of excitement to the composition. By strategically incorporating these bursts, the painting becomes more dynamic and visually engaging.
Get out and paint fireworks this Fourth of July! This demonstration is one of numerous approaches, so it’s important to discover your own process. How would you approach this subject? What techniques would you use? Share your thoughts and your own work in the discussion thread below!
Meet the Artist
Scott Maier is an artist and a content contributor to artistsnetwork.com. He’s also the author of the instructional art book See, Think, Draw: An Easy Guide for Realistic Drawing and Beyond.
Love this quick and easy check list/how to for fireworks paintings. This guide helped me see how to begin other abstract paintings I have been thinking of trying but didn’t know how/where to start!! One of most valuable posts on artist network I’ve read! Many thanks, Scott and Artist Network!!