Love This! Black + White Portraiture at Its Best

As we all know, lighting is important. It sets the mood on a date or at a dinner party, it can create emotion and drama where there would be none if the same scene were lit by overhead fluorescents, and when used right, it allows us to see detail that we never would have noticed otherwise. 

Today's artist, Rebecca Mason Adams, has got lighting down. Not only does she capture it perfectly in her black and white portraiture, but she also lights her subjects before painting them, and if her work is any indication, she nails it every time. 

In Rebecca's paintings, lighting allows her to focus the viewer's attention on what's important to her--the black and white patterns, the faces, the gestures or postures--and let everything else fade into the darkness. You can definitely tell that she is a former photographer who knows what's worth capturing and what should be left behind.

That being said, lets take a look at some of Rebecca's work! I can't get enough of these black + whites and can't get enough of her unique compositions...

Aren't they incredible? And don't you feel a little more moody, dark, and mysterious after looking at these? You know you're looking at good art when it affects you so quickly...

You can view more of Rebecca's work on her website, her Instagram feed, her Facebook page, and on Twitter.