Tuesday, May 18, 2010

An Accent Waiting to Happen...

Kira (12x16)

Detail

Here, the accents are the 2 dark cast shadow strokes of her knee against her shin, and the robe against the couch. Accent strokes are only effective when executed with an obvious spontaneity -- a deliberate single stroke. In other words, not rendered, finessed or smoothly overworked in several brush strokes. Make it work like an exclamation mark to amplify a statement. Used properly and sparingly, accents marks can say a lot with little and lend integrity to the overall picture.

For far better inspiration than mine, study the trinity of Sorolla, Sargent & Zorn; masters of the accent stroke and saying more with less...

4 comments:

  1. Très belle étude et peinture déjà remplie de lumière et de sensualité.

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  2. It looks to me that you were really enjoying the folds and drape of the fabrics in this one, There is a difference in texture from smooth flesh to the brushy fat paint strokes in that blue robe. I like the contrast.

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  3. You explained this very well and provided an excellent example--thank you.

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