Our eyes instinctively seek out areas of contrast, no matter what we’re looking at—so it makes sense to add patterns high-intensity contrast to our artwork as well.
In the video below, George James demonstrates one method for creating a pattern of light and dark in a painting. And as you’ll see in just a moment, it really doesn’t matter how the light is actually hitting the figure. . . this technique is all about creating a pattern of visual interest for the viewer. Take a look:
You can also find George James’s full watercolor tutorial at Creative Catalyst.
*Note: this post may contain affiliate links*
There are a number of ways to create visual interest in a work of art, but today's video tutorial focuses on just one—creating visual pathways through your artwork.
In the clip below, George James demonstrates how a simple teacup drawing can be changed to include a dynamic and engaging visual pathway. As you'll see, George starts by removing the lines that separate various sections of his drawing, and then re-defines those sections with dark and light values.
The end result is ONE "line" that travels between both dark and light sections, creating a linked pathway that is both visually compelling and completely unique. Take a look:
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