Welcome to
The Painting Lesson
by Linda Carson
big black pig studio
98 King St. N., Waterloo Ontario Canada
www.bigblackpig.com
Smooth blending or Sfumato
When we look at rounded forms (such as drapery, people, and rolling hills), we observe that the shape is created by gradual variations in value. In painting, that effect is recreated with smooth blending: such a gradual transition of tones that the viewer can't find any edges.
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For example: I blended the tones here by drybrushing, glazing and scumbling in acrylics. However, I'm a trained professional. Kids, don't try this at home. Smooth blending is easier in oils. |
This effect is easiest to achieve in paints that dry slowly (so you've got lots of time to fiddle and fine-tune the effects). It's sometimes called "sfumato" (from the Italian word for "smokey") and this is what oil paints and fan blender brushes were made for. However, don't feel limited to fan blenders. Any broad flat brush will do. Many painters depend on rags, sponges and even fingers to get perfect sfumato effects.
Safety tip:
Using barrier cream or gloves not only protects you from skin exposure
to solvents, it makes clean-up a breeze at day's end.
Back to the main lesson?Art & Text (C) Linda Carson 2002
Loosely translated, that means:
"Please don't copy this material or redistribute it
in some other form, for any reason.
This is my livelihood."