Glass Half Full....

[Andrew Rance]

Oil on canvas paper, 12 x 16".

[Crystal1]

A very beautiful painting.

[saintlukesguild]

Good anatomy, complimentary back ground, excellent directional lighting...as far as it goes. The highlight on her forehead, lower and upper lips set a standard. This same light should appear elsewhere, on curves in the same light source, and there are many. Tiny threads of highlight on her ears. The glass on the ear pendant sparkles with light. The ear design is in the same position and has little convexities begging for light. Highlight on the collar bone, the breast and the shoulder. Any curved apex of flesh and bone in the path of the light source. The source that lights the forehead extends, theoretically, out of the picture plane, and would touch all the places I mentioned and more - those curved apexes projecting into the light. Logical guesstimation is all the guide you need. Which includes those finger nails that logically should catch the same light as the glass they hold.

[Andrew Rance]

Thank you - you have made some very valid points. I will reconsider this painting in the light (pardon the pun!) of the comments you have made. The original photo ref did not have such strong lighting emphasis, and I deliberately exaggerated the effect but, in the process, overlooked some fundamental technical rules......

Best wishes.

[kevinwueste]

Andrew - There is a nice setting of mood here - the color palette and lighting serve that well. Above - the commentary on highlights - highlights - vs form light are sharper-edges relatively and will be clear - they are specular in nature. The highlight on her forehead - or (form)light I should say, looks to me more like form-light ( the brightest light on a plane or form that is NOT a highlight) - as it is more diffuse than it will be if it is highlight.

Her ear - if it's not in the light - it will not have any highlights. But I wasn't there with the model - only you can say for sure!

Edges - the sharper edges ( e.g., more contrasting edges ) are :

usually ()

- in the light
- closer to the viewer ( atmospheric perspective)
- where there is a clear plain change
- rarely as sharp as we want to draw or paint them

To wit - her neck and the jaw is it connects to the neck is very sharp - too sharp in my opinion for a location that is out of the light and retreating from view. The bottom of her right arm looks quite sharp as does the material of her dress and the back of her hair /neck.. These will likely be slightly less sharp-ish and that will aid the feeling of form and forms turning in space.