How do you draw White on White?
Is that really possible with pencils. After all they are gray!!
 |
| LUKA - 5 x 7 Graphite Drawing. Commission |
As I was working away on my latest commission, a White Dog, I realized this presents a special problem. It is a problem that is not only in the black and white World of Art but colourist have to work differently as well.
White on White just doesn’t work. . .
But stop a minute. Sure the local colour of the
subject is white but there are many other things to take into account.
1. Shadows: whether you are using colour or not, there will be shadows and they will have a value. By Values I refer to the value scale.
 |
| A 5 Step Value Scale - 1 Being White and 5 Being the Darkest Value |
No matter what type of light is on the subject there will pure white areas (Value 1) but there will also be areas with subtle values (in the 1.5 to 3 range) and some with darker values (Maybe even to 5). As the planes of the subject move further from the light they will be more shadowed.
2. Reflected Light: This light is reflected off the surfaces around the subject. It will not be as bright as pure light and so the subject’s surface will not be as bright and will have some value.
 |
| Note the range of values found in the shadow side of Luka's face |
For the colourist these values also offer a potential for other colours. Reflected light brings not only light onto the subject but it brings the colours that it is reflected from.
 |
| Note the colours on this White Cookatoo |
Although this is white bird you can in my photograph that the greens of the leaves and the reds of the branches have been reflected onto the bird. Also note that although our eye reads this as a white bird there is in fact only a few places that are pure white.
 |
| FULL SUN - White Flowers display many colours in the sunlight |
My painting FULL SUN gives you an idea of the colours that can be infused into white flowers by Reflected Light.
3. The Power of Suggestion: Never take this for granted. When your viewers look at your work they see what you want them to see: a white dog, a white flower, . . . Their eye reads it as white, so the eye is ready to except that white has many values and colours in a subject.
4. Background Value: The value of the background has a big influence in making your subject WHITE. Sounds a little crazy when I say it, but its true. You can see by looking at Luka, the Cookatoo and my painting FULL SUN that the whites pop. The reason, a background colour that is dark enough to make the white standout. That area of strong contrast brings out the pure white. This in turns allows for the other areas to have different values and colours.
Next time you are working with White, check out some of these points and see how you can bring them into play in your work.
Learn More about Reflected Light with my Video: Let Ambient Light put a Sparkle into your Work
Special News: SAVE THE DATE
Show and Classes coming this November to
Landmark Pop-UP Gallery, 15140 North Bluff Rd, White Rock.
Landmark Pop-UP Gallery, 15140 North Bluff Rd, White Rock.
Reception: Nov. 10, 6:30-8:30
Part 1: - Get that Line Drawing Right -Thursday, Nov. 10
Is your Drawing Process a Conversation between you, your subject, and your
support? Join Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM as she uses the bare line to bring her
Blackeyed Susies to life.
Part 2 - Values, Light & Shadows Bring Your Subject to Life – Thursday,
Nov 24
Are your Values, Lights and Shadows making your subject full and
vibrant? Join Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM as
she breaths life into a flat, outline drawing.
2 comments:
Wendy thank you for sharing wonderful tips on painting or drawing white subjects. Your painting Full Sun is beautiful.
Thank you. I am glad to hear you found my discussion worthwhile.
Post a Comment