Have you ever experimented painting with only two colors: black and white – only black and white and I don’t mean a mixture of the two. There is a lesson well worth learning with this experiment. Try painting anything without middle values, painting what is light, white, and painting what is dark, black. I dare say an artist will be ready to give up their passion before completing the work. The temptation to go gray and slipping in middle tones would be maddening. Try it with a landscape or a portrait.

When you think about it, it is no more complicated than a pen and ink drawing, where black ink is the dark and white paper is the white.

The experiment is a good one because it teaches a lot about contrasting values. Later when you repaint the picture with colors, you’ll feel comfortable that you had control of the issue. For a study it is worth the effort.

Be sure to sign up for the Art Center Information newsletter and enter the drawing to win a free coffee table art book>>>Upper right hand corner of page.