“Black and white art sends its own extraordinary message separate from that of color works — a message that may be shared or different for each person. It is entirely up to interpretation.”

To become a master artist, one must take risks and push the limits. One must also understand the essential role light plays in the fine art process. While color theory and application are important, the true test of an artist is his or her ability to render a masterpiece without it. This January, Exclusive Collections Galleries will inspire with an exhibition unlike any it has done before, presenting its first ever Black and White Show, where artists Asencio, Steve Barton, Michael Flohr, Walfrido Garcia, Christopher M., Hisashi Otsuka, Steven Quartly, and Daniel Ryan will challenge themselves to create works entirely in grayscale. Taking place in San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Gallery, the show places emphasis on the fundamentals: composition, value, andcontrast.

These artists are willing and able to show the world what they can do in this difficult realm.

Black and white art originated in cave paintings done in charcoal, and colorless works have evolved to encompass a wide variety of media. Throughout history, many artists have favored charcoal because of its versatility. Painters often use it to create detailed sketches prior to painting on canvas. Today, there are three main forms— powder, vine, and compressed — that allow artists to produce both dramatic, rich markings as well as smooth transitions and crisp, detailed lines. Charcoal helps the artist to accurately represent texture, shading, and tone. Graphite is another popular medium similar to charcoal. Leonardo Da Vinci’s sketches show how a skilled artist uses graphite to create dimensionality and realism in its simplest form. It takes great technique, but once mastered, the skills learned can translate into any medium. Watercolor, acrylic, and oil can also be used to create colorless works by desaturating and diluting black to obtain a wide tonal variation.

 8 OFF THE EASEL MAGAZINE – WINTER 2014