Painting a pearly luminosity
This painting by Monet is an excellent example of an artist employing equivalent value hues, dramatic
contrasts, and uncomfortable undefined edges to achiever that shimmering light the impressionists so loved. It is
important to differentiate the values in the foreground from the background. While the figure of the woman may
seem to almost merge into the sky in fact she is considerably darker. Squint your eyes to better understand the
contrast.Luminosity is achieved by merely pushing the contrasts until the light dominates everything (below). Many
artists spend their life trying to make their paintings glow ... mine probably glow most when I throw them on the
fire...... but I never quite give up! Anyway glow isn't everything.STUDENT ACTIVITY: Collect at least 5 examples of pictures you consider to have 'that glowing quality' and
add them to your folder you created in the lesson titled 'Inspiration'. Allow 40min.http://www.geocities.com/~jlhagan/lessons/pearly_luminosity.htm (2 of 3)1/13/2004 3:53:46 AM