Lab Book #14, Part 8: The Burlesque Dancer

What is a circus without a burlesque dancer? I was watching a lot of a TV show on HBO called Carnivale, and they had this old-style circus with a lot of the classic performers like burlesque dancers. I suppose that series was part of the inspiration to do the Lab Book 14 series which is centered around circus themes. On the top left of this painting is the dancer, lights shining up from below as she works the stage. You will also see, to the right of the stage, an image of a couple dining on a pillar in the desert, this doodle was used to create another work, which I think I may have posted already, if not I will post it soon.

This painting was all about the light and shadow. Every object on and around the stage is depicted with bottom lighting (the light is from below). I have not actually indicated where the light is, adding to the mystery of the picture. To create strong lighting effects, try to have a fairly sharp border between the shadow and light. For example, the dancer herself is almost all lit up, except for a thin sliver of shadowing on her left side. Similarily, the 'fan-like' obejct in the wall to the right of the stage is nearly black and white (without too much grey area between), which intensifies the contrast between shadow and light. Another trick is to keep some of the background elements dark, look at underneath the stage, I have created very dark cave-like images which provides a backdrop enhancing the bright parts of the painting.

20x16", hot press, 2009