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Glowing Light: Painting Illumination

What makes a painting glow? In this eye-opening course, acclaimed painter Mike Malm reveals how to convincingly capture the effect of radiant, glowing light—not just the light source itself, but the way it influences everything around it.

Introduced by Sentient founder Keith Huang, this session explores how to create the illusion of illumination using color, value, and edge control. Mike begins by showing a “bad” painting—one where the glow effect is missing—to highlight exactly what makes light fall flat. From there, he demonstrates how subtle adjustments can bring the painting to life.

Whether you're painting candlelight, sunlight, or any glowing focal point, this course will transform the way you think about light, helping your paintings radiate with atmosphere and emotion.


Interested in this course?

Join the Pro Artists Club for just $38/month and unlock:

  • Full access to the Sentient Library (excluding mentorships & ateliers)

  • Exclusive new releases and bonus content

  • Members-only live events and perks

Level up your learning—on your schedule, in your style.

  • Michael Malm

    Instructor

  • Fundamental

    Difficulty
Meet your instructor

Michael Malm

Michael lives in the beautiful Cache Valley of northern Utah with his wife, Juanita, and their four children. The surrounding rural communities and setting provide backdrops for his figure paintings and inspiration for his landscapes. His serious study began under Del Parson at Dixie College where he completed his associate’s degree. He then went on to Southern Utah University where he had the opportunity to study with Perry Stewart, and completed his formal education at Utah State University where he received a Master of Fine Arts Degree studying under Glen Edwards. Workshops have also played an important part of his development studying with such master painters as Richard Schmid, Burton Silverman, Daniel Gerhartz, Quang Ho, Ron Hicks, Michael Workman, and Jim Norton.

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