Art lessons - learn how to paint pictorial and ambiguous light
4-3 HOW LIGHT WORKS ITS MAGIC
3. FRONT, PICTORIAL AND AMBIGUOUS LIGHT
- Front Light - the favorite of photographers, two dimensional artists, children and colorists where
emphasis is on color and texture over form and value. Front light can eliminate the need for shading and
shadows (which is a pity for they are a great joy and keep many artists from wandering aimlessly about the
streets in the dead of night). Front light is also excellent for use in portraits of unremarkable people.
Holbein's front light portrait of a Dutch princess eventually caused the schism that resulted in the formation
of the Church of England. Like good putty front light can cover-up many faults.
USING THE JMW TURNER FRONTLIGHT PAINTING TECHNIQUE: (From my 'Arrive
Timor' (60" by 36") painting from the Bounty series)- On a prepared canvas begin with a thin glaze (stand oil/spirit medium) of yellow with touches of red and
blue. (blue suggesting the distance, yellow the middle ground and red the foreground). These thin 'washes'
serve as a beginning - the overal plan for solving the problems the subject presents. - After drying make light compositional drawing with chalk.
- Lay in the large masses boldly with impasto white/color mixtures and allow to dry.
- Draw/paint in the forms in greater detail with a light brown (burnt sienna).
- Begin to add colour using glazes and scumbles. Do not fear adding white to the glazes as this can create a
broken light effect. Build thin layers of colour on top of each other maintaining a luminous transparency to
the canvas and the textured white below. (note - can be wiped) - Apply accents and details including dark local colours as well as impasto white highlights strategically
placed to give the effect of glimmering light. - Finish the painting in the frame touching up with fresh varnish and using thin brushes to drive paint into
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