Linking the Darks

Linking darks is one way to create more interesting shapes.  It can also help lead the eye around the painting as well as stop the eye.

In this painting of another Parke County bridge, the foreground shadow leads into the dark reflections in the water.  That takes you up to the reflection of the bridge and then to the dark shape of the bridge.  Linking the bridge to the dark trees prevents the shape from becoming a boring rectangle.  It also tends to stop the viewer's eye, sending it back to the bridge.

I've become more aware of the importance of darks in my compositions.  Students have a difficult time committing to darks or using enough paint to achieve a dark value.  In watercolor, the old ad that said, A little dab'll do ya  does not apply!