There are those who talk about the principles of painting as if they are rules to be followed, but I don't agree with that
viewpoint. A rule is something we are told we must follow. Our tendency is to resist because it seems to impose upon our free nature, but a tool is something totally different: a tool is something we can use to get the job done. That's why I don't agree with calling these principles rules.
Take the principle of value contrast, for instance. You've heard lots of rules about it, but what does value contrast do? What is
its action? And how many kinds of value contrast are there?
Look at these two interpretations of my painting, Looking Back:
What is value contrast doing to tell you about the difference in the weather between A and B?
Let's take the color away so we can take a more specific look at what value contrast can bring about without the influence of
color.
The first question is what do the different kinds of value contrast do to your eye's response to them? Here's take a closer look:
The farther apart two values are on the value scale, the stronger their contrast with each other. The
closer they are in contrast, the easier the eye can flow from one of them to another. Whereas the stronger contrasts pull the eye to them, the closer ones carry the eye through from one to the other. So the degree of contrast determines to degree to which the eye is interested in it.
Notice above how your eye responds to the degree of value contrast in the circled portion of A as compared to the same section in B. Which one does your eye really want to go
to?
Check out how your eye responds to the newly areas circled. Is there a difference? Do you experience how the contrast between the
fence post and ground is less interesting to your eye than the sheep's back against the post in A? Now, compare THAT to the same two areas in B. See the difference?
Go to Jennifer McChristian's work HERE. One at a time, visit
several of her landscape paintings and allow your eye to move around passages in each painting, noticing how the three kinds of value contrast guide your eye. Keep in mind: not color, but value contrasts.
ENJOY AN ENLIGHTENING WEEKEND!
You can access the archive of all my newsletters at anytime by going HERE. |
|
|
|
