What do I mean when I refer to harmony and drama in a painting? Well, I’m not really talking about a calm, tranquil scene versus one with plenty of action. Harmony and drama often occur within the same picture so the phrase can also be used to describe the overall mood of a single painting.
Harmony and drama together
A painting with a focal point has parts of the picture that draw the eye more than others. This is often achieved by muting passages that support the focal point to allow it the most tonal contrast, detail and colour. (left) is a simple illustration of this. Simplification is not omission of objects that aren’t the focal point; those things should be included but in an understated way. The focal point is the waiter and the two figures sitting at the nearest table. They have the most tonal
