For the next two Wednesdays, I will be giving workshops in London titled 'White on White'
Given that I am known as a 'colourist' - this theme came as quite a surprise to the organisers!
Today I was playing with water colour and white objects and came up with the following sketches: What I hope they demonstrate is just how much colour and tone there is when we place white objects against a white background.
Garlic.
White objects on a white cloth. Note that in this monochromatic water colour, it is the tones of light and shade that reveal each white object.
This exercise is excellent in moving towards an understanding that tone is every bit as important as colour in creating a painting. In indicating the tones throughout the painting we get more of a sense of the overall harmony and balance of the image.
Traditionally underpaintings were painted in this manner. There is a saying that if the underpainting works, then the over painting in colour will work. If however, the underpainting/composition does not work, no amount of fiddling around with colour with correct it!
Here is another example of a very large oil on canvas I painted many years ago...For this series of paintings, I began with monochromatic underpaintings. 'Quilt on Wicker Chair'.
It looks a little misty this morning, but it's supposed to be another sunny day in London.
A Bientot
stmss
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That is a great theme.x