Front Light
14.5 x 14.5 in.
Graphite and white chalk on toned paper
$750
Available, call (240) 461-7799
Victoria Castillo is a classically trained artist who paints people in light-infused settings, often gardens and intimate interiors.
“I love the way light and shadow play across the human form. I use it to create mood and to tell a story. Front Light is a drawing, created from life, using pencil and white chalk on toned paper. The model, a Native American woman, sat for several sessions with me over the course of a week.
The title refers to the position of the light source and what it reveals about the model. Using “front light” to illuminate a subject is always a challenge. When a light source shines directly onto a face, the light falls evenly, causing no deep shadows or bright highlights. This can easily lead to a flattened appearance. But with experience and practice, front lighting can be used to reveal subtleties of features that would be obscured by more dramatic lighting.
In this portrait, I chose front light because I wished to show the model’s feminine details, such as her thick eyelashes and the wisps of hair at the nape of her neck. In addition, it allowed me to direct attention to her exquisite profile. The softness of the light also fit her quiet, inward gaze.”
Front Light is on its way to The Museum of Western Art in Kerrville, Texas, as part of Women Artists of the West’s America The Beautiful exhibition, February 5 – March 19, 2021.
To purchase this painting, call (240) 461-7799
To view more of Victoria’s paintings, visit her website.
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