On contrast of planes of the front form (Hale)

Note: All future useful art notes will be posted on a single page, please refer to the link on the right side of the blog.

When one form comes out in front of another, beginners usually darken or blacken the rear form to make the form in front stand out. Beginners do this not only because they see the cast shadow on the rear form, but also because they erroneously believe that the black rear form will push the front form forward. The professional realizes, on the other hand, that the way to bring the front form forward is to intensify the contrast between the planes of the front form. The cast shadow is used at times on the rear forms, but it tends to kill the planes and destroys the illusions of true shape when it is misused.

Robert Beverly Hale, Drawing Lessons from the Great Masters (New York: Watson-Guptill, 1989), 65.