Something a lot of painters fail to do in a painting is to incorporate a full range of edges, with hard to soft brushstrokes. Developing and refining edges is important because they enhance the atmospheric perspective in landscapes, as well as in still life paintings and interior scenes. They also create the three-dimensional quality of forms, by making them “turn”.

In this still life painting, the tips of the asparagus leaning against the tin are painted with hard edge, in this case a sudden change of value from light to dark. The asparagus pieces laying on the surface are painted with soft edges in a gradation of values.

Look at this closeup of some oranges. You can see the hard edges on the light and top planes, and soft edges of the form shadow areas.

In this course unit

This unit deals with one of the most important topics relating to brushwork – edges. You will learn:

• how to incorporate a full range of edges in your painting, from hard to soft
• how to use the direction of the brushstroke, and changes in value to soften edges
• how to develop an edge by adjusting the background, rather than working directly on the edges of objects in your painting
• how to use edges to move objects forwards and backwards in space and give your paintings more depth
• how to use edges to create eye movement in a painting
• how to use “lost and found” edges to improve the realism of your painting
• how to use color changes at edges to enhance your painting

Total number of assignments: 3

Total number of pages: 14