The View & The Relationship
The View
I really like how ‘The View’ turned out. The contrast between the darkness of the room, the colour of the jacket, and the brightness of the outside world, really enhances the effect of chiaroscuro in this painting.
This painting definitely tells a narrative, and can evoke an emotional response, so it has the necessary requirements of becoming a ‘Static Interaction’ painting, and I think that when it is combined with the rest of the paintings in some form of strip/storyboard, then the effect will be intensified greatly.
What is Chiaroscuro?
Chiaroscuro is a painting technique that originated during the renaissance, it’s purpose is to model three-dimensional forms in a dramatic way by using strong contrast between dark and light, this is usually achieved by casting a single light on an object in a dark room.
Caravaggio – Judith Beheading Holofernes
This painting by Caravaggio is a perfect example. If you analyse the painting, you’ll find that the entire scene is lit up by what seems like one light source, this allows for a strong juxtaposition of extremely well lit areas, and shaded areas, which is far easier to paint as well as more dramatic than more graduated shade and light areas.
The Relationship
This painting highlighted some areas of concern for me in obscuring the face. I really like the palette and the composition of the painting, however, there is one aspect of the painting that keeps me from enjoying it, and that is the large rendition of the lady’s face at the left.
I think that the human body’s ability to analyse a face is extremely developed, and therefore a face without features really jars that fundamental ability, and unnerves the viewer. I don’t think that in other cases in painting it has mattered so much as the face has either been much smaller, or shrouded in darkness, and is therefore more tolerable. While this unnerving effect has its merits, I feel that it isn’t what I am looking for in my painting at the moment, and therefore in the future, I am going to try and keep the face smaller in my compositions so that this isn’t replicated.
In terms of ‘Static Interaction’ however, I think this painting is a lot like ‘The View’, and I believe that viewing it in a large storyboard of sorts will make it much more effective.
In my next few paintings, I will try to rectify this facial feature problem, while also improving my palette and composition.
Joe
