contrast....

[MathewBaich]

I have a question about contrast and degrees of contrast. I have been getting comments about contrast on my work. I always concentrate on smoothness when I paint. Should contrast be my top priority over smoothness?

 

[Ritual]

Depends on what you want to achieve... For NMM, for instance (don\'t know if you\'re into that or not...), I\'d say contrast is more important than smoothness, since a lot of the illusion is created by the contrast of light and dark.

But, why chose? Why not try to have both?

But, then I guess it\'s also a matter of style. High-contrast paintjobs tend to look better in photos than low contrast paintjobs, but that doesn\'t necessarily mean that it DOES look better period! If you don\'t like high-contrast painting I suggest you keep on as you are used to. You\'re painting for your own pleasure, foremost, after all.

 

[MathewBaich]

good point. Someties when i get a strong contrast, it looks somewhat wrong becuase there\'s all the shading and then bam! there\'s a blotch of a really light color.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Ritual
Why not try to have both?

That would be my first thought too.

Smoothness and contrast don\'t fight against each other really so one can comfortably strive to achieve both at the same time.

Einion

 

[JaPizzy]

Well, I\'d like to add my two pennies worth here. I just looked at your stuff and I think it\'s great.

I personally like subtle highlights even though I don\'t find they photo better. But you will be looking at them in person all of the time, so you should go with what you like to \"see\" all of the time.

Anyways, hope I made sense