I like to think about color like a triangle of influence. When you change one side, always consider the implications it has on the other two sides of the triangle. If you want to learn more about color, make sure to grab my free Color Theory Cheat Sheet. You could create a strong contrast between smooth and rough textures.
This is a powerful technique which I wrote about in this post. Here are some of the applications of texture contrast:. In the stunning painting below by Ivan Shishkin, notice how he created the illusion of texture in the foreground, and how this contrasts against the smooth texture of the clear sky and background.
Shape contrast could refer to rigid and organic shapes, or long and short shapes, or circles and rectangles. I often make use of shape contrast in the overall design of my paintings. In the painting below, notice how the shore in the foreground, the river and the treeline create three rectangular shapes which contrast against the more organic shapes created by the sky and mountain.
This high-level analysis is important because if the mountain was not there, the sky would form yet another rectangular shape which would not be ideal in terms of composition. On a more specific level, there is shape contrast between the organic shapes of nature and the rigid shape of the house.
When you start to break your subject down into basic shapes, then you are able to create interesting shape contrasts which may not be obvious on first glance. You may also pick up composition mishaps which you would otherwise fall straight into.
If you want to see great use of shape in landscape painting , then check out the paintings of Edgar Payne. In painting, you have hard, soft or lost edges. You can help people navigate through your painting through the clever variation of the edges you use.
Our eyes like to follow hard edges, but if you only use hard edges have no edge contrast then your painting may appear jarring and cartoonish. If you only use soft edges, then your painting may appear hazy and out of focus which is not necessarily a bad thing, if you are going for that look.
You can make a powerful statement by contrasting hard edges amongst mostly soft or lost edges, like in the painting below. The hard edge which represents the outline of the subject contrasts against the soft and lost edges used in the rest of the painting. This brings the subject forward in perspective and pushes everything else back. One of the most common problems in painting is trying to capture every single detail, no matter how insignificant. By doing this, it becomes confusing as to what the key features are in your painting as everything is rendered with the same level of detail.
As a general rule, I like to use more detail for key features and less detail for areas which are less significant. This sounds obvious, but it can be difficult to follow, especially if you are not completely sure what your key features are. What are the most important features which I want to paint. In the painting below, notice how your eyes naturally gravitate towards the left where the buildings and boats are positioned. This is because of the increased level of detail and activity used for these areas, compared to the rest of the painting which is nothing more than general blocks of color.
You might also be interested in my Painting Academy course. It goes into much more detail on the fundamentals of art. Study the work of other illustrators, graphic designers, artists, and masters in art history.
How did they use contrast to embellish their work? These rules of contrast, while simple, are capable of giving our art a great sense of awe and power. It takes a piece that might be mediocre and makes it genius. Older Post Newer Post. Read our privacy policy. Cart 0 products in your cart. Edit Cart. The Power of Contrast in Art Nov 16, What Can Contrast be Used For?
The Basics of Contrast in Art The important thing is not to feel overwhelmed. Ellie Tran is a freelance illustrator and writer soon to be based in Anchorage, Alaska. She uses watercolours to illustrate her own stories; and when not illustrating or writing, she enjoys being out in nature. Tagged with: art tips watercolour. Creating contrast is fun and there are no limits to the experimentation and learning. However, as in everything in life, be careful not to overdo it. First of all, you might get bored with it quickly.
And second of all, you might loose the contrast if you overdo the elements and stuff your page to look like a bunch of disconnected elements. Experiment with black and white paint and shapes. Use white elements on a black background or vice versa. Use the negative white space and add elements only in one area to contrast the white space.
For example, watercolor paint and an image. Create value contrast by using only one color in its dark and light values. For example, if you use blue watercolor, lighten it by adding more water, and darken it by adding more paint, or even black to it. If you use acrylic paint, lighten it by adding white to it. Your painting will be monochrome, only blue, but with different values. And make that distinction really pop. Boldly explore the value contrast.
Create temperature contrast by using one cool and one warm color. You can use one for the background and the other for elements on your page. Without contraries is no progression. Attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, are necessary to human existence. This post covers. Hue contrast example with blue and orange:. This is an example of a literal shape contrast by using circles vs. Do you like this article about contrast in art? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!
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