A successful painting is more than copying images to appear just like a photograph or doing a portrait that looks just like the person it's portraying. Just copying whatever is in front of your eyes can
often cause unintentional emphasis that actually weaken the painting. Look at this painting. Do you see an emphasis that distracts?
METHODS OF CREATING EMPHASIS
Emphasis is created by contrast, one of our major tools for composing paintings. Although not conclusive, here are six ways contrast can create emphasis:
Circled in red below is our culprit.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
The unintended emphasis created by this small mark is caused by contrast in value, contrast by isolation and contrast of direction. No wonder it stands out like a sore thumb. Here's the
painting with that little ditty deleted.
Enjoy a Weekend of Creative Emphasis
Happy Painting,
Dianne
dianne@diannemize.com
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