Help with lighting and shadow

[MrSandblast]

Hey guys, looking for some feedback on this piece in regards to lighting and especially shadow, which is something I feel I lack in. I seem to find colouring shadow quite difficult. I am colourblind but I don't see this as an excuse, just that I don't think I completely understand why the shadows look off.

I also note that my perspective and door sizes are out a bit. This pic was done quite quickly so I'll be sure to slow down and concentrate on getting them more accurate next time.

Any other tips are greatly appreciated!

One other thing.... can anyone explain how to get my thread to have a thumbnail image? Cheers!

[TinyBird]

http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=221049
What is going on in this image? What is that yellow stuff that's dripping from the storm?
It would do you good to use some reference to the tornado and overall lighting that's going on during those:

[MrSandblast]

Thanks Tinybird, appreciate your response. The yellow stuff is just meant to be sunlight. I'm new to art and just really added it for some extra colour. I'm not aiming for realism, just a bright and hopefully eye catching piece. My tornado does look a bit off. I used a random Google image for reference but it felt very flat and boring so I improvised a little. I will look at adjusting it to look more real.

[JeffX99]

Even the surface of the sun isn't that bright! Tornadoes are extremely dark and moody usually...cameras, and especially video cams tend to adjust for the dark mass of the storm and sky and so completely blow out any sky or light areas that may be open. Just something to keep in mind.

[TinyBird]

I'm new to art and just really added it for some extra colour. I'm not aiming for realism, just a bright and hopefully eye catching piece.

Which is partly why you should try to stick to realism and reference at the start. Because when you start doing and adding stuff that you don't understand how it works or have the skills to properly convey it really easily ruins the piece. If you want to have light shining through the storm, (as unlikely it in real life would be) then actually look what light coming through clouds looks like, how they both behave. I'm going to be frank here and just admit that at first glance I thought the clouds were dripping piss.

[MrSandblast]

So I just took a piss and studied it, my cloud lighting doesn't look anything like dripping piss lol.... however, it did suddenly occur to me that I have a problem with analysing things properly and believe I need to sit down and work on painting what exists and not just making it up. Thanks for the help.