Contrast makes your work more realistic

A common mistake that artists make is the failure to consider contrast within their work. Contrast could be described as the difference between the black point and the white point within a composition. All points between are shades of grey. Therefore the ultimate contrast is between black and white. This idea will be common to those of you who have ever used Photoshop. But in terms of your paintings there are strict visual rules you need to follow if you want your work to appear more realistic and natural. Foreground elements must always display the most contrast, strong highlights and dark areas of shade. As the composition recedes into the distance (in a landscape for example) the contrast, colour and focus becomes less pronounced. This creates the illusion of depth