The Ping Pong Effect

This entry was originally posted on Thursday, November 15, 2012

Sego Lily

11x14"

 

Having too much white (and when I say white, I mean the white of the paper) in a painting creates what I like to call the ping pong effect.

White is usually what most people see first.

 

It can be distracting to the viewer if there are too many whites that are all the same white.

The eye will ping pong around the painting, not knowing where to land.

 

It is best to place your whitest white in, around, or near the focal point.

All other whites should have a tint of color to keep the eye from being distracted and directed back to the focal point.