Spotlighting

Directing the viewer's eye to your major subject is an important consideration when composing your painting.  Sometimes you can use "pointers" -- lines that lead the eye to a certain spot on the surface of your painting.  Other times you can use color or size to attract attention to an area.  In this painting of a Venetian Canal, I used a method called spotlighting.

This technique depends upon values.  In this case, the focal point is the gondola.  A secondary subject is the light on the building on the right.  To draw attention to the highlighted areas, I've surrounded them with darks which creates a spotlight effect on the water and the buildings in the distance.  In addition, there is very little detail in the darks to distract the eye.  Describing every window or texture on the buildings in shadow prevents the eye from resting there.  The light summons your eye, and the silhouetted gondola stands out because of the contrast.

I've said it before; painting dark values requires a lot of paint.  Learning how to cover large areas of dark values is essential.  Paint quickly and make your brush go all different directions.  Painting fast prevents the paper from drying which is deadly to keeping a fresh look.  Mix a large puddle before you sail into the area. 

It also helps to have a value sketch as a road map to help speed up the application of the paint.

Merry Christmas!