light and dark theory

Chiaroscuro

For those of you who dont know "Chiaro-scuro" Italian term which trasnlates into 'light-dark' and is the use of light and shadow to show volume dpth and shape to a dramatic affect.

Early painters like van Honthorst, and other painters in the 1600s were experimenting with lighting techniques to add ore realism to there work.

Examples in comics

frank millers SIN CITY has contrasting shadows and light to the extreme, using no fade and all solid black lines.

my own attempts

As you can see with the different mediums i have used, you can achieve Chiaroscuro easily just takes knowing the form of an object and how you wish to portray the 'roundness'.pencil was the easiest to blend but ink is the most contrasting so play with the materials you have and see what effects they can give.

Bibliography:

van Honthorst, G. (n.d.). Supper of Emmaus. [oil painting] Musee do Peinture et de Sculpture.

van Honthorst, G. (1623). Saint Sebastian. [Oil on canvas] Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN: the national gallery.

Miller, F. (2010). SIN CITY the hard goodbye. 3rd ed. Milwaukie: Dark Horse Books, p.Cover.

further reading:

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2017). chiaroscuro | art. [online] Available at: https://www.britannica.com/art/chiaroscuro [Accessed 9 Nov. 2017].