Light & Shade (Art Techniques from Pencil to Paint)

By Paul Taggart and Paul Taggart - Artist :Author:Presenter:Producer

Book Overview

Control the effect of light, volume, and depth so that you not only suggest space, but also the focus in your paintings and drawings. By concentrating on light and shade in these exercises, you'll later rely on your experience when you work in all media, from monotone sketching to color painting. Start by working with a black-and-white graphite stick on a scene of a barn. You'll be amazed at the different marks that are possible. Different pressures and varied strokes make for a stimulating and quick start to your drawing. The finished piece will have a full range of value and the contrasts will provide a good expression of light and shade. While shading can be fully expressed in monotone, it can also easily incorporate color. Our minds carry many associations with color, which can help to suggest depth and sunlight, or even evoke a mood. Color pencils are a natural first step from gray into color. In these studies, the method used relies mainly on hatching and cross-hatching to intermingle the colors. As you advance to pastels and crayons, you will deal more with strokes of color and move even closer to painting itself. Control light and dark tones as they modulate across the surface of an object to create volume. A still life offers you the most controlled subject to paint. Not only can the direction of light be exploited, but also the subject itself can be arranged and rearranged to satisfy your taste. To bring out the strongest sense of volume, use sidelight to illuminate your still life. In this way you'll have the full range of values, from highlight to accent, amply displayed. Sunlight fills a painting with joy and verve, keeping it from being flat and unimpressive. Working outdoors teaches you everything about light and its effects. Each of these studies will help you understand how to make the most of sunlight and shadow. Book jacket.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402702256
• ISBN13: 9781402702259
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Sterling Publishing (NY)
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.5" x 9.4"