Listen "#4 Painting the Backlit Subject"
Episode Synopsis
Follow along with the painting process as award-winning Australian artists Anne Smerdon and Seabastion Toast take on the deceptively simple painting challenge of painting something backlit (where the subject is drenched in shadow and the light comes from behind). What sounds easy turns out to be a technical, emotional and philosophical minefield. We discuss: 🎨 value (or tonal) massing and why tone does all the work when colour gets all the glory 🎨 painting techniques and losing contrast to gain atmosphere 🎨 the painting challenge and agony from working on a square canvas 🎨 the birth of abstract art and the realisation that maybe its not the subject but how we see it that matters 🎨 imposter syndrome in artists and the need for external validation 🎨 the joys of leaving things unsaid in your work 🎨 the art collection and art styles of artists Glenn Dean, Jeremy Lipking and Bonnard Want to join the challenge? Share your work using #smerdontoast on Instagram, Tiktok or YouTube — we’d love to see it! 🖼️ Shop the artworks from each episode: 👉 www.annesmerdon.com 👉 www.seabastiontoast.com
More episodes of the podcast Smerdon Toast
#3 Painting light
19/05/2025
#1 Alla Prima Painting Challenge
27/04/2025
#2 The benefits of painting timed studies
27/04/2025
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