Final answer:
To depict a bright light shining on a reflective object in an artwork, hard highlights should be used, which provide a strong contrast and suggest shininess.
Artists often use light and shadow to create the illusion of three-dimensional forms and direct the viewer's attention.
Therefore, the correct answer is: option d). hard highlights
Step-by-step explanation:
Hard highlights consist of areas on the object where the light is most directly and strongly reflected. This creates a sharp contrast with the rest of the object's surface and often results in a bright spot or streak that suggests the surface is shiny or reflective.
Artists use contrasts between light and shadow to give the illusion of three-dimensional form and structure. The concept of illumination is especially important in portrait painting, where key lighting, fill light, and rear light are considered to precisely manage highlights and shadows to enhance the subject.
In the context of artworks like paintings, the subject would be depicted with strategically placed light and shadow to direct the viewer's attention and convey mood or narrative.
When a surface is rough, like paper, it diffuses light and allows visibility from different angles. A perfectly smooth surface, like a mirror, will reflect light at specific angles.
To represent the effect of reflected light from a surface that is both shiny and slightly uneven, like the Moon's reflection on a lake, an artist might combine these techniques to create a shimmering effect.