I am holding an in-person workshop September 24-26 this year. To get the scoop, go HERE.
What do you think when you see the words contrast and gradation? Let's amend these two concepts. Let's not call them principles. Let's call them
tools.
THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPOSING TOOLS
A tool is a device used to carry out a particular function. To contrast is a function. To gradate is a function. I
would argue that these two functions are the most important tools available to the artist. Let's examine that argument just with contrast. (We'll address gradation next week.)
What do you see in this image?
Right. It's a gray rectangle. But what you didn't know is that this is a photograph from which I took away all the color and the value contrasts. Now, look at the next image. What do you see?
Probably, your answer is cat or kitten. I'll give you that, but the reason you see that image is that I used the tool value contrast. I added just enough value difference to reveal the image. I
sampled for you below (in the ovals) the darkest darks and the lightest lights you see here. Look at how close those values are. That is close (or minor) value contrast.
Only a tiny bit of value contrasting will enable us to see an image, but without value contrast or color contrast, no image can be visible.
The greater the range of value contrast, the more we see of the image.
We create that range by adding intervals of value difference. An interval is just a degree of difference.
NOW, THERE'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
P.S. Because I mentioned color contrast, here is an example of color contrast in a similar value range.
Enjoy a weekend of just the right amount of contrast!
During my Language of Painting series, I explained the role of our visual elements. If you'd like to review those roles to better understand the behavior of elements, here are the links to each of those
discussions: Color --Value -- Shape -- Texture -- Size -- Line and Direction
You can access the archive of all my newsletters (as well as the Quick Tips and other stuff) at any time by going HERE.
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