Contrasts in drawing

Contrast is instinctively understood as the balance between dark and light values. But while drawing it can take several other forms, that will help maximizing the effect of the composition.

There are many ways of creating contrasts, among them:

• Curves are opposed to straight lines
• Larger strokes are opposed to thin strokes
• Hard edges are opposed to soft edges or even lost edges
• Light values are opposed to dark values
• Etc.

Painters use drawing sketches as roadmaps, where relationships inform both the artistic intention, but also the practical way of achieving this intention, in the final painting.

Points to remember:

1. Contrasts exist to reinforce the composition by creating relationships between elements.
2. Contrasts is not just the difference between dark and light values, but several other things that depend on the medium used to draw or paint.
3. Thinking in relationships is good to translate artistic intention, but also has practical benefits, like indirectly creating a roadmap for a more fleshed out piece done later.