Black, White and color

The Kiss by Robert Doisneau

What is known as black and white in art is not necessarily limited to strictly those two colors. It's not uncommon to see shades of grays, tans and even browns in a black and white piece. Though the term is generally associated with photography, it is used when referencing television, movies, printing, drawing and even painting. Often Op Art relies on black and white to create a sense of movement to the viewer, though color is sometimes used too. It's important to note that the foundation of nearly all great works can usually be broken down into black and white.


Most of the best painters rely on good drawing and sketching skills. They work in tones before adding any color, focusing on obvious shadows and light areas. Tone usually implies that there is no color, and artists tend to use the term hue when referring to color values. Once the basic light and dark values have been noted, various colors and hues are addressed.

A great example of the progression of working from sketches to applying paint is Mark Lague's technique. He breaks it down into six steps:

Sketch by Mark Lague

1. The base drawing- Mark focuses on abstract shapes rather than actual objects. He sketches the largest and most significant shapes first.

2. Establishing the values- In the next stage of creating a painting, Mark will apply washes to establish the tones or values of the piece. The values, which remain as they are at the final stage of the painting, are applied in a thinner wash. The values are simplified and smaller shapes are kept to a minimum at this point.

Some color added to the painting by Mark Lague

3. Integrating light and dark-  When the base paint is dry, Mark begins to add full color. He uses contrasting thick impasto painting with thin transparent passages in what he calls a "wet-on-wet" technique.

4. Completing the focal area- Unlike most artists, Mark will work section by section to finish the piece. He is careful to avoid adding too much detail.

5. Establishing depth- Once the focal area is completed, Mark addresses the remaining values of the piece, working on any background areas that need to be developed.

6. Finishing- In the last stages of painting, Mark will incorporate small shapes, but he is careful to edit himself. He feels it is critical to know when to stop adding detail.

The final piece by Mark Lague

More works by Mark Lague:

Haight Ashbury Light by Mark Lague

Hotel in Rome by Mark Lague

Chicago Afternoon by Mark Lague

Three Cabs by Mark Lague

Somewhat off the topic, but here's a cute little video about the color Pink!