Light Dramatic Strategies for
Concept and Emotion in Art
Glenn Hirsch, Instructor
What’s the ‘true color’ of the house?
The ‘real’ color doesn’t exist independently of the light
Ivan Aivazovsky
“light” = drama
Paul Wonner
“light” = emotion
Elmer Bischoff
“light” = mood
Paul Wonner
“light” = a focus of interest
1.Dramatic spotlight2.Reflected light from water3.Back light 4.Cast shadow 5.Glowing light
Strategies to ‘stage’ light in your
paintings
Dramatic light – a spotlight on a stage (chiaroscuro light)
‘chiaroscuro’light, a dramatic spotlight in a dark space
chiaroscuro light
a spotlight in a dark space
chiaroscuro light
a spotlight in a dark space
Reflected light from water
Reflected Light from water on the ground
John Singer Sargent
Reflected Light from water on the ground
Back light – from behind the object (creates a silhouette)
Back lighting
creates a ‘halo’ behind the object
Back lighting
creates a ‘halo’ behind the object
Ilya Repin (Russian 1850-1930)
Tamara Avery, student
Glowing lightcomes from the object
(not reflected on it)
Glowing Light
light is coming from the object, not reflected on it
Color Theory to enhance the illusion of light:
Pairs of “warm” and “cool” colors and
‘value’ (contrast)
warm and cool varieties of each hue –
e.g., a warm orangey red and a cool purplish red
Chromatic scale
• Light to dark• Bright to dull• Warm to cool
“value’ = the black-and-white of the color
another strategy:monochromatic color
Picasso’s monochromatic ‘Blue Period’
Monochromatic color = varieties of the same hue
John Reamer
Judith Klain
In a monochromatic color scheme, you can use more than one hue, it’s just that one hue dominates
In a monochromatic color scheme, you can use more than one hue, it’s just that one hue dominates
Bill Puetz
Monochromatic Light
creates a strong mood
Alfons Mucha
Steven Speilberg’s Close Encounters
Monochromatic Light
creates a strong mood
Gustav Klimpt
Steven Speilberg’s Close Encounters
same subject in two color schemes (monochromatic on right)
Angela Pryor
same subject in two color schemes (monochromatic on right)
Night and twilight are natural monochromatic color schemes
Daniel Rabier
Eddie Fitzgerald
Landscapes are natural monochromatic color schemes