I’ve just uploaded a video about high key painting and what it means. Have a look and let me know what you think.
Here’s the set up I was painting. You can see the beige paper behind the daisies that I reference in the video.
If you squint, you can see that the centre of the right hand daisy is pretty dark. I decided to take artistic license and make it lighter than it shows in the photo. In this way, I kept the painting high key.
Here is my thumbnail of the set-up. It’s not the clearest job dividing the work into three values (parts of the background look too dark) but doing a thumbnail allows me a chance to become familiar with the subject so when I come to paint it, I have a better understanding both of it and how I want to portray it.
And here is the set of Schmincke pastels I chose my sticks from:
(I have sorted this box of Schmincke pastels into values. For help sorting a box of pastels into values, click here to see my video.)
And the final painting:
High key paintings are ones that feel airy and light. Often the light source washes out the scene and there are very few deep shadows. The subjects can be white or light-coloured themselves – eggs, a snow-covered landscape (with no dark trees), puffy white clouds, a white-sand beach for example.
The main thing is that the values used are from the lighter end of the scale.
How are you feeling about your understanding of a high key painting? Have you made a high key painting? Let me know in the comments!
All for now 🙂
~ Gail
PS. A couple months after I wrote this post, I wrote another about low key paintings. You can read it here.
14 thoughts on “High Key Painting – What IS That??”
Hi Gail, This presentation is very clear as to what a high key painting should be. Could you give us some examples of well known pictures??? Your positive energy comes through in all your videos. Well done. S.
Thanks Sandy!! Funny, when I was writing this blog I thought, Hmmmmm…I should write a post with some well-known paintings as examples. You’ve just sealed the deal! So keep a look-out for an upcoming post with high key painting examples.
Loved this clear explanation.
Thanks so much Gill. That makes it so worthwhile!
thanks so much for the high key painting
You are so welcome Deb!
Your “How to Pastel” is a great resource and I truly appreciate it.
Thanks so much Bill!!!
Thanks very much! I am a pastel painter and I never really heard of this technique (I am self-taught).
Thanks for the video I am going to try this!
That’s great Cindy!! Let me know how it goes!
Wow, thank you so much. Gail would it be possible for you to give demo on Henshes pallete.
Gosh you are welcome Philip!
I’m not sure what palette you are referring to…Can you give me a bit more info?
Thanks for explaining high key in such easy to understand visuals and terms. Its clearer than what I have learned in a course!
Ms N, that is so awesome to hear! You made my day 😁