Chiaroscuro Head of the Virgin in Three Quarter View Facing Right, 1508-12. Leonardo da Vinci (Italian 1452-1519). Charcoal, black and red chalks, traces of contour sketch in pen and brown ink.

What is Chiaroscuro? An Italian term that dates from the Renaissance (1500s). Chiaroscuro describes drawings, paintings and prints that display both a high contrast of darks and lights (dramatic lighting) and subtle gradations of value between light and dark (subtle shading). Chiaroscuro literally means “light/dark.” Renaissance artists began using chiaroscuro when they became interested in how light could illuminate a form’s contours, increasing the sense of depth.

What techniques and materials did artists like Leonardo use? Charcoal and different colored chalks Inks (white with brown or black) Renaissance artists also often used “prepared” (colored) paper. Jan Gossert, 1520, Adam and Eve, pen ink with white water color on blue grey paper.

In Europe, chiaroscuro became the approved drawing style of art schools. Here is a charcoal and chalk drawing by Maurice Quentin de la Tour from the 1700s. Note the use of white chalk (white conte) to acentuate the fall of light on certain areas. Chalk and charcoal.

The technique of chiaroscuro is often taught today by having students draw simple white objects under a single strong light source. These conditions allow students to see the subtle gradations of shadow invoked by artists who did not actually observe chiaroscuro in nature but created a system of imagined dramatic light. The current trend is to have you draw simple geometric shapes. In the 18th and 19th century artists perfected techniques of chiaroscuro by drawing white plaster casts of ancient sculpture.

Leonardo da Vinci wrote that the perfect way to illuminate the head of a young woman was to seat her in a courtyard with high walls painted black and direct sunlight diffused by a muslin canopy. Who knows, he might have tried this once, but it’s a safe bet to say that he primary imagined this ideal light.

Here is a drawing of a cast of a foot by Paul Maillet

A simple shape like an egg is a good place to start A simple shape like an egg is a good place to start. Drapery or a crumpled paper bag (your homework) is a good next step.

Teachers have given the different shadows and values we see different names.

In a controlled environment, the area of the object directly in the path of the light source will be the lightest tone. We call this area the highlight. The areas blocked from the light source are usually the darkest. Blocked light = shadow. The areas parallel to the light source are usually mid-tones. Because objects usually exist in relation to a ground or other objects reflection also affects value.

How to get started. Make a six tone value scale How to get started? Make a six tone value scale. Pick one of these three techniques for creating value.

Teams of two should set up an egg still life on white drapery Teams of two should set up an egg still life on white drapery. Use a clip on light to establish a single strong light source.

Next, do a quick contour drawing of your composition in light pencil

Now start adding values, using your value scale as a guide Now start adding values, using your value scale as a guide. I like to start with the darkest darks. Find highlights, mid-tones and shadows. Extra credit if anyone locates an antumbrambra (that’s the lighter halo of a shadow that sometimes extends from its core.)