Achieving more contrast in botanical painting

Creating more contrast between light and dark is usually what we need in our painting to stop it from looking ‘flat’. The workshop will help you explore tonal values in your painting to a greater extent, so that you achieve a more convincingly three-dimensional form.

Subject matter – dark coloured seasonal fruits, nuts, berries or fungi, or edibles such as cherries.

Participants may draw their subject matter in advance of the workshop to save time and to bring it with them. Round forms are perfect for this type of work to use as an exercise for a couple of hours.

Equipment: bring own painting kits (quality brushes with good points, preferred brand of artist quality paints, palette, lint free rag - kitchen roll/tissue is discouraged as these disintegrate and cause fibres to appear on paintings and rinsing water, water pot etc.

In addition members can also bring any other work in progress or finished works as well for discussion with regard to tone and contrast. Leigh Ann will be bringing examples to show her painting technique.