Can light make paintings sing?

Looking at art:

Watercolor instructors caution that you must be conscious of the direction of the light on your subject snd save the white of the paper while you paint. Recently, in examining the paintings of Mary Whyte, I have been struck by her manipulation of light in her work. She seems to set a stage with a spotlight-like presence of light areas against striking dark areas. This effect is particularly apparent in her portraits. Are you aware of how artists us light to add drama to their art?

Work in the Studio:

To call attention to the woman’s face in the painting shown here, I have placed my darkest colors around her head. In the right top section of the piece, the lightest part of the work also highlights her. Even though she is pouring something on her dessert, I have deliberately left the area around the cup close in value to her hand, in order to make this part of the painting less important than her face. It is my hope that being consciously aware of the effect of light while painting will improve my work.

Sweet Confection, Watercolor, 12” x 12”