When we talk about "mood" in fine art, it often brings to mind a stormy, emotional scene—at least for me. Illustrators, however, are constantly tasked with creating a specific mood to meet the demands of their art director and satisfy the client. This mood is essential in selling the intended product.

But as fine artists, we have the freedom to choose the mood and decide how to execute it. We are in complete control of the outcome, with no one dictating our direction. Mood in painting can be created in countless ways. Take a familiar mountain scene, for example. Now imagine altering the mood by shrouding a quarter of the mountain in fog or partially obscuring it with a cloud. Alternatively, emphasize a strong light source reflecting off one side of the mountain or illuminating the base. Each of these changes would evoke a different mood and atmosphere.

Consider how lighting the foreground versus keeping it in shadow could make the background pop, or how placing an architectural structure in half-shadow might create a sense of mystery. The key is to experiment with your ideas while keeping an eye on the overall design to avoid creating chaos. Those seemingly average reference photos can be transformed into exciting, mood-driven, finished works.

“As fine artists, we have the freedom to choose the mood and decide how to execute it.”

The takeaway is to be open to experimentation—don’t feel confined to the story portrayed in your reference. Instead, create your own. Nature reveals itself in countless ways, and there is no wrong light source, only one that is misaligned with the overall design. Use technology like Photoshop to play with ideas before you start painting if you're unsure of the outcome. Personally, I often adjust values and colors on my computer before I touch the canvas.

If you are still challenged with your technical skills, don’t worry. All of this can be done with pencil and paper. Once you realize you’re in control of your painting’s mood, you’ll find the possibilities exciting and endless. This process of exploring unknown paths is how we grow as artists. So embrace the adventure, and enjoy the journey!

If you’d like to learn alongside me, join me through my video downloads, river rock downloads, free webinar, or podcast.