Thursday, April 30, 2009

Go Play with a Flashlight!

Every artist, beginning through advanced, young and not so young, must deal with their ability to understand shading and the use of a full range of values.

I tell my students, "Go Play with a flashlight!"
Wait until night (and with
day light savings time that seems later and later) and go play with a flashlight. Shine it on everyday objects, move it around and be observant of what the light is doing to the object's surface and what the cast shadow does as it falls on the table and the surfaces around it.

If you are anxious to try this activity (yeah, right, I am serious) you can find a dark room or a closet and play with the flashlight in there.

I want you to find small objects that are around your living space and place them on a white or light piece of paper. Move the light all around to research what happens. Take a pencil or wooden spoon and lean it up on one of the objects. What does that leaning shadow do? It is a look I find helpful.

I am not going to post any more right now, I really want you to play with a flashlight!
My next post will tell you what you can do with this new found knowledge.

Some suggested small objects (solid, not see through glass)
Apple, real or plastic
box of toothpicks
salt or pepper shaker
ball
small toy
tape dispenser
stapler
small votive candle
spool of thread
things in the junk drawer

1 comment:

  1. You? Are brilliant.

    I don't paint or draw or anything but I might just go play with a flashlight later anyway. :)

    ReplyDelete

Helpful Pet - what is your's up to?

Helpful Pet - what is your's up to?
POGO

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Fun and projects!

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Muriel

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Peggy

Mixed Media Class

Mixed Media Class
Nancy

Poppies ....

Poppies ....
ready for their new home!

Ta Da .....

Ta Da .....
this little gem is ready for blog preview and Etsy post tomorrow!

Ta - da!!!!

Ta - da!!!!
I can now walk away from the Easter Pear!!!

Easter Pear?

Easter Pear?
I like pears better than eggs!!!

Easter Pear Step 1

Easter Pear Step 1
Step 1 - I thought this would be enough ... silly me!

Easter Pear Step 2

Easter Pear Step 2
Step 2 - I wanted to add a bit of EGG Whimsy.

Easter Pear Step 3

Easter Pear      Step 3
Step 3 - It wouldn't be mine if there weren't any cast shadows.

Easter Pear Step 4

Easter Pear Step 4
Step 4 - And I love a good implied table line ... don't you??

Easter Pear Step 5

Easter Pear Step 5
Step 5 - Oh, better kick up the value a bit!

Easter Pear Step 6

Easter Pear Step 6
Step 6 - The background could use a value shift.

Easter Pear Step 7

Easter Pear Step 7
Step 7 - Add, of course we need a bit of implied texture!