This document discusses five strategies for using light and color in compositions: 1) Dramatic spotlight, 2) Reflected light, 3) Back light, 4) Cast shadow, and 5) Glowing light. It also discusses using monochromatic color schemes to enhance the illusion of light. Examples are given of artists who effectively used different lighting techniques or monochromatic palettes to set moods or direct attention. The document recommends first blocking in light and shadow with a thumbnail sketch before adding detail in paintings.

1. Color and Light
Five Strategies to Stage Your
Compositions
Monochromatic Color Schemes
Glenn Hirsch, Instructor

2. Emotion in painting depends on “light”

3. What’s the ‘true
color’ of the
house?
The ‘real’ color
doesn’t exist
independently
of the light

4. Ivan Aivazovsky (1817 – 1900)
“light” = drama

5. Paul Wonner
“light” = emotion

6. Elmer Bischoff
“light” = mood

7. Paul Wonner
“light” = a focus of interest

8. 1.Dramatic spotlight
2.Reflected light
3.Back light
4.Cast shadow
5.Glowing light
Strategies to ‘stage’
light in your
paintings

9. 1. Dramatic light – a spotlight on a stage
(chiaroscuro light)

10. ‘chiaroscuro’light, a dramatic spotlight in a dark space

11. chiaroscuro light
a spotlight in a dark
space

12. chiaroscuro
light
a spotlight in a
dark space

13. Melissa Mizell

14. 2. Reflected light (from water)

15. Edouard Manet

16. Elmer Bischoff

17. Monet

18. Reflected Light from water on the ground
John Singer Sargent

19. Reflected Light from water on the ground

20. 3. Back light – from behind the object
(creates a silhouette)

21. Backlighting
creates a ‘halo’
behind the
object

22. Backlighting
creates a ‘halo’
behind the
object

23. 4. cast shadow

24. Ilya Repin (Russian 1850-1930)
Tamara Avery, student

25. Cast shadow

26. Wayne Thiebaud

27. 5. Glowing light
comes from the object
(not reflected on it)

28. Glowing Light
light is coming
from the object,
not
reflected
on it

30. Color Theory to enhance the
illusion of light:
Pairs of “warm” and “cool”
colors
and
‘value’ (contrast)

31. warm and cool varieties
of each hue –
e.g., a warm orangey red and
a cool purplish red

32. Chromatic scale
• Light to dark
• Bright to dull
• Warm to cool

33. Georgia O’Keefe

34. “value’ = the black-and-white
of the color

35. monochromatic color
schemes

36. same subject in two color schemes (monochromatic on right)

37. Picasso’s ‘Blue Period’

38. Monochromatic
Light
creates a
strong
mood
Czech Art Nouveau artist Alfons Mucha
Scene from Steven Speilberg’s
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

39. Paul Wonner

40. Nathan Oliveira

41. Gustav Klimpt
Scene from Steven Speilberg’s
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

42. same subject in two color schemes (monochromatic on right)

43. Night and twilight are natural monochromatic color schemes
Daniel Rabier, student

44. Eddie Fitzgerald, student
Landscapes are
natural
monochromatic color
schemes

45. Monochromatic
color =
varieties of
the same hue
John Reamer, student

46. Judith Klain, student
you can use more
than one hue, it’s
just that one hue
dominates

47. you can use more than one hue, it’s just that one hue dominates
Bill Puetz, student

48. • Recommended:
• First do a thumbnail sketch on
a separate piece of paper
• No detail – block in the light &
shadow

49. 1/25 Color mixing, brush technique, glazing (assignment #1: limited palette painting)
2/1 Light and Color (assignment #2: "light" and/or monochromatic color)
2/8 More Light and Color
2/15 NO CLASS
2/22 Light and Color III (assignment #3: "space")
2/29 Texture
3/7 Style (assignment #4: master study and original response)
3/13 SUNDAY FIELD TRIP to Legion of Honor Museum 930am-1230pm
3/14 More on style and color
3/21 Exploration (assignment #5: student choice)
3/28 More on style and color
4/4 Composition I
4/11 Composition II
4/18 Crit