How to Paint Complementary Backgrounds and Foregrounds
Dec 09, 2024When every part of your watercolor has the same emphasis, you really end up emphasizing nothing.
To avoid this, you first have to understand the role that each part of your painting plays. Today, we're going to talk about the different treatment of the background, foreground, and middle ground of your painting.
This lesson is one that I had to learn in real time, and has made a drastic difference in my paintings.
Tutorial - Paint Better Backgrounds and Foregrounds
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What is a Foreground For?
Let's first talk about the foreground.
The job of the foreground is to lead a viewer into the scene. It should be inviting, leading, but not full of so much information and saturation that it distracts from the main idea in the middle ground.
It cannot steal the show or outshine the middle ground, but it helps to have some texture here to lead the viewers' eyes into your scene.
The Most of Everything in the Middle Ground
You want the most saturation, contrast, and attention in the middle ground. This is where the spotlight should be - and your choices around the middle ground should work in concert to highlight the focal point (or points) in the middle ground.
Let the Background Recede
The background - much like the foreground - should not steal attention from the middle ground.
But what are the features that make a part of a painting recede rather than come forward?
You want soft edges, less saturated colors, soft lines, less detail and texture, and less contrast. These strategic choices will minimize the impact and therefore keep the attention in the middle ground.
Watch the Video for a Full Demonstration of These Tips
Don't forget to watch the video tutorial at the top of the page! This will help you synthesize these ideas and also give you a sneak peek into my painting process!
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