Value painting

I created this post to discuss how an artist can think technically about achieving an intended value key discussed in the previous post. This method helps to simplify an overwhelming number of values into a more workable structure at early stages of a painting (a digital one in this case). The loose renderings below are quick head studies from my imagination as they might be lit for dramatic and compositional purposes. I began with this basic head drawing which indicates some of the major…

Value study

Still life value study - 6x6" (demo) A couple of months ago I put out a challenge to anyone who wanted to take on doing 50 value studies in 30 days, ideally from life. We also set up a challenge over on the Daily Paintworks site for those who wanted to simply take one crack at it. (This challenge is still on if you want to join in.) The idea is to use only 4 values (white and black included) to portray your subject. What this forces you to do is make decisions about where values must be…

On color value: All of us, beginners and experienced painters alike, can benefit from a refresher course in the bedrock principles of ...

Learn how to start a painting with the first three (light, medium and dark) color values, in order to help create a realistic sense of light from the start.

Value refers to how light or dark color is. Value is an essential element in drawings and paintings. This article explains how value is the key to a successful painting, not color.

Do you ever get confused about tonal values? Here is a free poster to help you make sense of them with a value study.

Learn how making thumbnail sketches and using them as value studies helps you create winning painting compositions. How to sketch the value and tone relationships and how to create an interesting composition by testing out value and tone of your masses. Tips to plan a good painting.

For me, even a simple landscape painting needs to have three basic elements. A foreground, midground and background. How those three elements are handled will

I made a mini tutorial on how to paint using a value underpainting!! (🔗 below)

It is essential to know that in painting, colors can be right on, and the design can be wonderful, but if the values are wrong, your painting will surely suffer. The word VALUE in painting refers to how light or dark something appears.

The idea was to some up with a creative way of creating a scale with 11 values from black to white and everything in betwee...

Tone Lesson - Different Kinds of Light

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Tonal value is one of the most important aspects to painting. It is the value structure of a work that allows us to be able to see light and dark in a painting. Value is even more important than color when it comes to learning how to paint. One can mix the most beautiful paint colors, but if the values are incorrect then the painting will not work. The opposite is also true. For example, if the colors are 'incorrect' but the values are then the painting will work. Learn more in full the…

A short tutorial on intentionally organizing your values for a stronger render and better composition.

Handful of value sketches from January.