Light & Atmosphere

This 6-week course focuses on understanding how light behaves and how artists can use it to create atmosphere within a piece. You will explore tonal studies, colour temperature, shadow, highlights, and soft transitions, using a variety of subjects such as still life, interiors, and landscape-inspired references.

With guided demonstrations and supported practice each week, you will learn how to observe light more carefully and translate it into artwork with greater subtlety and impact.

What we’ll learn each week

Week 1 – Seeing Light and Shadow Learn how to identify the main areas of light, mid-tone, and shadow within a subject. We will begin with simple tonal studies to train the eye to see value clearly.

Week 2 – Tone, Contrast and Form Explore how tone creates depth and structure. You will use shading techniques to make objects feel solid and three-dimensional, while understanding how contrast affects mood.

Week 3 – Soft Light and Subtle Atmosphere Focus on gentle transitions, diffused light, and softer edges. This week will help you create a calm, quiet feel in your work through controlled tone and blending.

Week 4 – Dramatic Light and Mood Work with stronger contrasts, directional light, and shadow to create more dramatic and expressive images. We will look at how lighting can completely change the feeling of a piece.

Week 5 – Colour and Light Introduce colour temperature and atmospheric colour mixing. You will explore how warm and cool colours can suggest sunlight, dusk, distance, and changing conditions.

Week 6 – Final Atmospheric Artwork Bring together everything you have learned to create a finished drawing or painting focused on light, mood, and atmosphere, with support on composition, technique, and finishing touches.

What you’ll come away with

By the end of the course, you will have a stronger understanding of how to use light, tone, colour, and shadow to create mood and depth in your artwork. You will leave with a series of studies, a more confident approach to observation, and at least one finished piece that captures a real sense of light and atmosphere.