Primary Colors

[Clive Fullagar]

Chris,

Thank you for the compliments. I think you really nailed it when you said that balance is in negative space. Initially the wall in this painting was very dominant. It was only after adding the shadow behind the figure that the balance started getting to where I wanted it to be. Too dark a shadow would have destroyed the composition, so toning down the shadow reduced the dominance of the yellow without upsetting the composition. That shadow becomes pivotal in the overall balance of the painting. Shadows often become the neglected spaces in paintings - but I love them. I far prefer painting shadows to highlights.

Thanks again.