Seeing the Light: An Artist's Guide
How can light create the illusions of depth on a 2-dimensional plane? How does rendering the subtleties of light suggest all-important mood and atmosphere in a painting? Well-known artist Carr provides a lavishly illustrated, step-by-step guide starting with, appropriately, learning to see. "Think like a sculptor," she advises, simplifying forms into their basic 3-dimensional shapes enveloped by various kinds of light. When progressing to color, she emphasizes focusing the center of interest by using contrasting values to route the viewer's eye by following the light. Using different lighting situations as full-color examples, she demonstrates refraction, gradation, and more, then analyzes compositional elements before even beginning the brushwork. Exercises using identical subjects compare and contrast the uses of watercolors and oils.Whitney ScottCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved