The #1 Way to Create More Contrast in Your Art
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The #1 Way to Create More Contrast in Your Art
What do you think is the #1 way to create more contrast in your art? For me it is all about value: the light against the dark.
Putting the lightest light value right next to the darkest dark value gives me the most contrast in a painting. It immediately pops because I am creating the highest contrast area(s) of the painting. This high contrast area will be my Center of Interest or Focal Point or Area of Dominance or whatever else it may be called - these are simply different names for the same thing.
I tell all my workshop students that if they only learn one thing from me, it should be to always put light against dark when creating a center of interest. I learned it from the Old Masters paintings as well as a from the teaching of Frank Webb.
When I think of light against dark, I think mostly about the paintings of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Rembrandt’s portraits used mostly value with very little color. Sometimes he used a light value face against a dark background, or he used light and dark clothing next to each other to develop the contrast. Vermeer used similar motifs. He often used light from a window to highlight the light values of a character or clothing. He also sometimes used a dark or black background to highlight the face in a portrait. Both painters relied more on value than color to create the areas of highest contrast.
If you have never used light against dark to create areas of high contrast in your work, then you should give it a try and see what happens. I believe it to be the best way to create more contrast in your art.
If you'd like to learn about abstract painting and making your own authentic work, then please join me for a painting workshop: (You can view a list of workshops HERE)
December 8, 2020 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Painting with David, 3 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
December 15, 2020 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Simple Color System, 3 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
January 6, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Simple Color System, 3 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
January 13-15, 2021 Murrell's Inlet, SC. Abstracting the Coastal Landscape (NEW) SOLD OUT!
January 20, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Abstracting the Landscape, 6 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
January 21, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Painting with David, 3 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
February 3-5, 2021 David M. Kessler Fine Art Studio, Winston-Salem, NC Click Here for Information and Registration - Only 3 Seats Left!
February 10, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Bigger, faster, Fresher, Looser Abstract Painting, 6 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
February 11-12, 2021 (Zoom) Interactive Mini-Workshop: Bigger, faster, Fresher, Looser Abstract Painting, 12 hours. Click Here for Registration and Information
February 19-21, 2021 Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach, FL Email Amelie Bush: amelieartist@aol.com
March 12-14, 2021 Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach, FL. Abstracting the Coastal Landscape. Email Hanna Joensuu: hanna222@cox.net.
As always, thanks for your support!
David
NEW! Interactive (Zoom) Mini Workshops
I have just added 6 new Interactive Mini Workshops (on the Zoom platform) to my website. Most are 3 to 6 hours long and are a great opportunity for learning a lot in a short amount of time. You’ll be online and onscreen with me as I instruct, demonstrate, paint, and critique your work.
Bigger, Faster, Fresher, Looser Abstract Painting
1 Day: February 10, 2021 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00 EST (6 hours total)
2 Day: February 11-12, 2021 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00 EST each day (12 total hours)
Abstracting the Landscape
January 20, 2021, 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
March 31, 2021, 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00
Simple Color System
December 15, 2020, 1:00-4:00 EST (3 hours total)
January 6, 2021, 1:00-4:00 EST (3 hours total)
March 24, 2021, 1:00-4:00 EST (3 hours total)
Click Here for Information and Registration
Painting with David
December 8, 2020, 1:00-4:00 EST (3 hours total)
January 21, 2021, 1:00-4:00 (3 hours total)
March 4, 2021, 1:00-4:00 (3 hours total)
All About Color
March 3, 2021, 9:00-12:00 and 1:00-4:00 (6 hours total)
Simple Color System Color Wheel
If you have seen my videos on YouTube or taken one of my workshops, you have seen me use my Simple Color System Colorwheel. My Simple Color System is easy to use and assures that the color in your paintings will be harmonious. Proudly made in North Carolina.
You can purchase the Colorwheel HERE.
