Understanding Color: White is Everything BUT White

White Vase Artificial Light

Why White, Isn't
White is affected by the light in which it is bathed and by the colors of objects that surround it. A white object reflects the colors within its environment.

In fact, all colors reflect the other colors in their environment, and all colors change according to the lighting - and so should your paintings.

Confused?
Consider a white vase. Drenched in warm artificial light from a lamp, it will appear yellow or unnaturally warm.

The white may even pick up shades of pink and orange along with the slight yellowness.

White Vase in Sunshine

White Vase in Shade

Take the white vase (or any white object of your choice) outside on a clear blue sky day.

The white now appears bluish or cool in comparison to the indoor white. Sunlight striking the white vase is usually warm, but we are comparing it now to the indoor light.

Next place your white object into full shade and study the changes of lighting. The lighting will appear cooler than the vase in full sun.

Now move it into half shade, half sun and watch what happens.

Pay attention to the different values within the shadow areas. Notice whether your white has a yellow quality or a blue quality.
 
Finally, hold it next to a red flowering bush. Look closely. The white will reflect the green from the bush and the red from the flowers.

White Reflecting Red

Tint That White
Tinting your white, whether it’s the paint from the tube or the white of your paper, will give your whites life and vibrancy. Save the pure white for your highlights and those highlights will pop.

Study white objects and notice the value changes. Place color next to the white and watch how the white reflects the color (you might also notice how the color reflects the white).

It's all these subtle integrations of color within color, within color within color, that painters add into their work to create that alive look. It takes a lot of looking to start seeing all of the other colors within a base or local color. The more you do this, the more you will see.