Berlin Drawing Room Blog: Seeing White

When learning how to paint, the use of the color white can be one of the most difficult skills to grasp. Improper use of white paint is one of the most common mistakes for beginners, resulting in a patch-work like effect. It is easy to assume that a white object must just be painted with white paint, or a highlight on a form should be as light as possible and therefore pure white. But as we learned, colors are relative! So even if you are painting a white cup, the perceived color is effected by the color of the light, and what is surrounding the cup. Shades of white can be very subtle and require close observation, but the results can be stunning!

Here are some examples of artists who have used white very intentionally as a color. To see examples of the excellent work from this class go HERE
Starting most famously with Whistler's aptly titled "Symphony in White, No. 1" or "The White Girl."