The Chiaroscuro Technique

What makes the Chiaroscuro technique unique?

(opposite: self portrait using the chiaroscuro technique by Rodney Swansborough)

Each artist looks for a medium which best suits their artistic expression and which they feel doesn't compromise their creativity. To use a medium which expresses and captures the innate creativity of the artist and which permits the artist to convey this expression to others is of fundamental importance. Why use watercolour if it doesn't enhance the artist's creative expression or use oils if they compromise the nuances that artist wishes to express?

Every artist needs the medium best suited to their own creative expression and style. When this is found, the artist is able to uncompromisingly convey all the nuances and aspects of their artistic expression. The chiaroscuro technique as I have developed it, provides me with the opportunity to express in my portraiture and life art, all the nuances and subtleties of light and shadows present on the face and body.



The chiaroscuro technique allows full tonal interpretation of these nuances as found in the delicate and subtle changes of light and dark on the human form. This technique enables me to capture and convey these subtleties in an exciting and uncompromising way.

Chiaroscuro Technique

What does the term "Chiarosuro" mean?

('Light & Lace Reflections' - chiaroscuro art - mdf board - chalk and charcoal- by Rodney Swansborough)

A word borrowed from Italian ("light and shade" or "dark") referring to the modeling of volume by depicting light and shade by contrasting them boldly.

Chiaroscuro (Italian for clear-dark) is a term in art for a contrast between light and dark. The term is usually applied to bold contrasts affecting a whole composition, but is also more technically used by artists and art historians for the use of effects representing contrasts of light, not necessarily strong, to achieve a sense of volume in modeling three-dimensional objects such as the human body.

Chiaroscuro is a method for applying value to a two-dimensional piece of artwork to create the illusion of a three-dimensional solid form. This way of working was devised during the Italian Renaissance and was used by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. In this system, if light is coming in from one predetermined direction, then light and shadow will conform to a set of rules.

July News 2008

Upstairs Art now has a fully functional mobile art studio - which takes the art studio to you. Rodney has recently purchased a Mercedes Sprinter Van which he uses to transport all the art studio equipment- easels, backing boards, paper, tables, art equipment. The Mobile Art Studio recently visited Wallabadah, where some 10 students participated in a full day workshop at the Wallabadah Hall.
More students are attending the Upstairs Art Studios in Murrurundi - with 10 new students enrolled for regular classes this month.
The kid's art classes recommence on Saturday morning 26th July for third term. 8 primary school children attend the classes - and are developing their skills in drawing, chiraroscuro, and painting. Parents need to book in early, as there is a waiting list.
Rodney is kept busy with his commission work and with setting up the Upstairs Art Gallery where his own work, as wells as student work is being displayed.