For this project, I used Leandro Crespi's photography to practice drawing portraits using color.

Crespi’s photography uses strong and colorful lighting to frame his subjects. As someone who has spent lots of time practicing and studying lighting in theatre, I am a big fan of bright colors and dramatic lighting. Lighting does much more than illuminate and make someone visible, it creates feelings and an atmosphere.

The colors red/pink and blue are beautiful colors in lighting, the vibrancy of the colors can be very fun and playful. However, in this photo, the model’s seriousness makes the lighting look very dignified.

My title for this piece is Silver Linings, after the common expression. The silver in the photo is the tear in the model’s right eye and the accents in the background. The reason for the title lies in the contrast between the tear and the positive expression. Much like my analysis of the lighting in the photo, the playful phrase is turned into a serious image.