In the month of October, our young artists are learning about the importance of backgrounds and how to depict transparency in their drawings and paintings. One of the most common mistakes an artist can make is to disregard the backdrop. It creates context and environment for the subject or main focus in the work of art. The shadow casted on a wall or the repetition of a pattern, all of these elements prove to be important for the composition. To summarize, the purpose of a good background is to depict a visual relationship between the subjects in the foreground and its surroundings.
It could also be used as a way to compliment the elements shown. In the picture on the left for instance, the dark cloth placed in back, allows the vase and flowers to become the focus. Another factor to take into consideration is color. The studio is teaching our students color theory and how they interact with one another.
Transparency is one of the most challenging features for an artist to depict. Transparent objects and elements such as water create visual distortions which we must notice in order to set them on canvas or paper. Have you ever noticed that a straws direction changes when placed in a glass of water? This is called refraction, which is when the light that bounces off the object changes direction causing a visual effect. This is the case for anything which is translucent!
At Priscilla & Tiffany's we dedicate ourselves in providing the most well-rounded curriculum for our artists to learn and develop their visual and practical skills! Stay tuned to learn more about our monthly objectives.