Chiaroscuro

1. Chiaroscuro We will be learning how to ‘shade’ our drawings to help create the illusion of depth!

2. Chiaroscuro • A word borrowed from Italian which translates as, "light and shade" or “dark.” • It refers to the modeling of volume by depicting light and shade through contrast. CHIAROSCURO STILL LIFE by Michelle White, BFA, Painting, 1991

3. Chiaroscuro (what we call ‘shading’) • This is one means of strengthening an illusion of depth on a two-dimensional surface. • Chiaroscuro was an important topic among artists of the Renaissance. The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, ca. 1512–15Gerard David The Jules Bache Collection, 1949 (49.7.21)

4. Here is a list of ways to create depth! • Let’s try the following in our sketchbooks…. Label each of your drawings • Overlapping • Cross-contour lines • Foreshortening • Perspective • Chiaroscuro!

5. Interesting fact… • On May 28, 1998, Jody-Anne Maxwell (Jamaican, 1986-) won the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling the word "chiaroscurist" -- an artist who uses chiaroscuro. • You are on the way to becoming “chiaroscurists” yourselves! ;)

6. Here comes the VOCABULARY!!! • You will be introduced to quite a few terms. • Don’t get overwhelmed… • You will learn it and practice it! • And you will master it!!!

7. Value • The lightness or darkness of tones or colors. • White is the lightest value; black is the darkest. The value halfway between these extremes is called middle gray.

8. Value Scale • An organized linear scale of color swatches ranging from the lightest of values to the darkest of values. • A value scale is a tool that artists use to help interpret the appropriate values.

11. Gradation • A smooth transition between black and white • We want to make our gradations as smooth as possible. • If values are not blended smoothly, your drawing will have a ‘striped’ look!

14. Highlight • The highlight represents where the light directly hits the object. • We use the white of the paper to show the highlight.

16. Light tone • The light tone is the second lightest value on an object. • They are shown as light gray and usually border the HIGHLIGHTED area.

18. Half (mid) tone • The half tone is medium gray. • The half tones would be next to the light tones. • Lets review… • Highlight • Light tone • Half tone

20. Shadow Edge • The shadow edge is dark gray. • The shadow edge is where the object begins to get darker due to a shadow! • Shadows are not solid…they have gradations too!

22. Core Shadow • The core of the shadow is the darkest part of the shadow -- the place where the least light hits the object. • These dark values are what really makes your drawing come to life!!

24. Reflected Light • Reflected light is what makes the core of the shadow appear to be away from the edge of the object. It is where light is reflected from a nearby area onto the object. • Careful observation of reflected light will help you make objects more convincingly round looking.

26. Cast Shadow • The cast shadow is the shadow the object casts onto another surface. • This kind of shadow usually has a hard edge, which can help you distinguish it from a modeling shadow. • A cast shadow will be darkest closest to the object casting it.

32. Drawing Pencils • We will be using drawing pencils for our value studies. • Drawing pencils come in a range of values. • Artists use the value of the pencil to do the work…not pressure.

33. Coversheet • How many of you have ended up with ‘pencil-hands’ after drawing?? • We do not want our hands to smear our hard work. • Use a coversheet when you draw! (a paper-towel)

34. Tips • Apply light even pressure. Use the value of the pencil…not pressure. • Shade evenly in ONE direction (diagonal, horizontal, or vertical) choose one and stick with it. • Shade in each area more that once to eliminate any shading gaps. • Keep your paper surface clean, use a cover sheet and NO SMUDGING WITH YOUR FINGERS!