Monday, August 10, 2009

first glimpse of opulence

9x12 pastel on Uart paper
The 95 plus humid heat has made a beautiful HAZY landscape. This morning's light was pregnant with gold and dominated the whole scene. Today my friend Shirley asked me to define dominant color and dominant light color/light key. Truth is, for me they work together. The dominant color is the thread, the color that ties it all together. The color of the light is the color that is made by the light bouncing off of things, water, trees, stones...it's not local color. It's things suffused with light so that its no longer important what they are, except absorbers or reflectors of light. That's simply my understanding...anyone else?

7 comments:

Double "D" said...

Excellent. Just a beautiful piece.
I'm really intrigued by your work.
Actually your watercolor under paintings
great. Just enough to inspire me to
get away from my illustrative approach.
Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Loriann:
I think you nailed the concept of dominant color and dominant light. The former threads throughout the painting in a variety of values and chroma. The prevailing light is the temperature and influences your palette tendancies.

susan hong-sammons said...

Hi Loriann, Your pastels are such gorgeous gems. I think it's most impressive how you can combine a bit of romance into your art without getting sappy sweet. Can't wait to see more!

loriann signori said...

Hi Doug!
Thanks so much for you positive words. It always helps...you know how artists live in (self-imposed?) vacuums. Watercolor is not a medium where I am totally comfortable and I can learn a lot from you. Your blog is full of beautiful pieces! My use of watercolor is merely as an underpainting-something to play off of when I move on to pastels, my true love. I am always interested in learning new ways and will be sure to check your blog often. To do that I will put you on my blog roll, ok?
Thanks again Double D!
Cheers,
Loriann

loriann signori said...

Hi Marianne and welcome back from the great northwest. I love our description of dominant color and light key/color of light. You say it so much more succinctly than I! Thanks for adding me to your blog roll!
Hugs, Loriann

loriann signori said...

Hi Susan!
I love that....a bit of romance! what more can a girl want????? Thanks for all your supportive words. I will go check your blog now to see how your last paint-out went.
happy painting, Loriann

Jala Pfaff said...

Amazing color work in this guy! Wow!