Dynamic Contrasts

Posted by artmentor on Jan-27-2010

The Principle of Dynamic Contrasts
This simple principle will add power to your art: If you have one area that is complex, keep the other areas relatively simple.

For Instance:

  • When the face in a portrait is complex - keep the background and clothing simple
  • If your landscape is complex - then keep the sky simple
  • If the sky is filled with drama - keep the landscape simple
  • If your vase full of flowers is complex - keep the background, table top, etc… simple

Notice how Picasso in his ‘Still Life with Skull, Leeks and Pitcher’, uses this principle. His simple background creates a foil for the complex subject matter.

Smart guy, eh?

Remember this SIMPLE FORMULA:

Focal Area = Complexity
Everything Else = Simplicity

••••••••

Photo Credit: Thanks *clarity*!

Posted in: ArtTIPS
  1. Louis Dallara Said,

    Thanks for all the Awesome tips!

  2. Ellen Mansour Said,

    Watercolor brushes: Don’t be afraid to invest in good brushes. You won’t be sorry. There is nothing more frustrating that trying to achieve good results with poor materials, especially brushes.

  3. Wendy Froshay Said,

    You are so right Ellen! Poor brushes are a total frustration and newbies to art will think that it’s them rather than realizing it’s their equipment.

    Good quality brushes aren’t that expensive now-a-days, and they’ll last your for years and years if you take good care of them.

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