Tenebrism is a term derived from the Italian 'tenebroso' which means darkened and obscuring. It is used to describe a certain type of painting in which significant details such as faces and hands are illuminated by highlights which are contrasted with a predominantly dark setting.
- National Gallery of Art, London
On a piece of 9 x 12 (or larger) black paper or black board, using color pencils and/or oil pastels, draw a scene that shows a single, warm-colored light source in a dark environment.
(For examples: a campfire lighting up faces and fronts of bodies, with darker trees or a bear looming in the background; or warriors carrying a torch through a cave with writing on the wall; or kids approaching the porch of a house with jack-o-lanterns glowing; or the flames of a dragon's breath lighting up a village)
Your bright areas should be warm in color (yellows, oranges, pinks), and your shadows should be cool in color (blues and violets)
This is to be a full scene. Fill up the entire picture plane.
See examples in the portfolio website of illustrator Keith Zulawnik (keithzoo.com). Scroll down on his homepage to the "Illustration" section.
Grading Criteria:
This will be graded on:
Quality of drawing
Quality of overall design (composition). Fill the page.
Successful indication of warm light and cool shadows.
as well as on qualities indicated in the Studio Habits of Mind rubric.
- National Gallery of Art, London
On a piece of 9 x 12 (or larger) black paper or black board, using color pencils and/or oil pastels, draw a scene that shows a single, warm-colored light source in a dark environment.
(For examples: a campfire lighting up faces and fronts of bodies, with darker trees or a bear looming in the background; or warriors carrying a torch through a cave with writing on the wall; or kids approaching the porch of a house with jack-o-lanterns glowing; or the flames of a dragon's breath lighting up a village)
Your bright areas should be warm in color (yellows, oranges, pinks), and your shadows should be cool in color (blues and violets)
This is to be a full scene. Fill up the entire picture plane.
See examples in the portfolio website of illustrator Keith Zulawnik (keithzoo.com). Scroll down on his homepage to the "Illustration" section.
Grading Criteria:
This will be graded on:
Quality of drawing
Quality of overall design (composition). Fill the page.
Successful indication of warm light and cool shadows.
as well as on qualities indicated in the Studio Habits of Mind rubric.