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Back-Lit Figure Oil Painting Woman Dynamic Lighting by Michael Malm

Painting the Back-lit Figure

The forest is the perfect scene to experience dynamic lighting, and in this course, you'll learn to describe a subject who's mostly in shadow, but back-lit just enough to outline her figure. The real challenge comes from the value and color temperature of the shadows though, as they manipulate the skin and other tones throughout the piece—a challenge Michael will prepare you for. To finish off, he gives his advice on simplification of the background to add dynamism to the composition, echoing the future as a focal point instead of a distraction. ( 1+ hours)

  • Michael Malm

    Instructor

  • Advanced

    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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