Values in Backlight

11″x14″ Oil on Canvas

 

I’ve often found myself frustrated while trying to realize form within a backlit subject.  The bright back round light tends to flatten the planes of a figure or face, making it difficult to read the values necessary to create the form of the features.  In a situation like this, the values are darker and often not as varied as one might hope. I painted this portrait with the intention of improving my skills in working with backlight.

As you can see, I started with a recycled canvas (covering an unsuccessful  painting), and a charcoal drawing.  The painting is essentially alla prima (if we can excuse the start in charcoal).

Sketchbook Project 2013

Done it again! Signed up for 2013.

This year, I’m committed to graphite with a touch of white acrylic here and there to pick up what the eraser can’t.  It’s all about the values, and an other worldliness.  My  objective is to concentrate on basics; strengthening my compositions through black and white values, and giving my right brain a work out, but keeping it raw, (resisting the temptation to refine).    I’m also experimenting with different papers. I’ll  eventually paste the pages into the sketchbook.  I’m  reserving one color perhaps, to introduce  later on..maybe;)

Above are pages 2 and 3.  Lots more to come.

KIDs ArT

As promised earlier in the month, here is Samantha’s completed acrylic painting.  Clearly, Samantha is not afraid of rendering her darks and lights.  She’s a natural with values. However, translating black and white into color is a little tricky.  This is not a problem for Samantha. She dove right in with complementary colors.  They pop with energy when placed together, as you can see in this piece.  Sam didn’t stop there, she added drama with her stylized interpretation of the scene.  The design work in her  composition pulls each element together beautifully.  Samantha’s painting welcomes the viewer to step right in, pick some apples and enjoy the warmth of the scene. Very nice work.

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