Learning How to Paint Part 6 - Notan

Why does a certain painting win first place in an art competition? The answer lies a lot in the harmonious arrangement of black and white in the painting. A well organized arrangement of dark and light shapes creates an impression of beauty, regardless of either the colors used or of the subject matter. This is called "notan" from the Japanese word that means "dark light harmony". Just about every successful master painting has a very strong notan structure. Notan is such a powerful factor in the success of your painting that it is one of the first things you should study.
Here is a brief introduction to notan, a simple idea that can instantly improve your paintings.
Happy painting!
Barry John Raybould
Virtual Art Academy

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Howto & Style

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