Value and Shading

A Value Scale can be used to examine Depth and 3-Dimensionality of an object. With value, artists can grant the illusion of depth. Depth is the distance between the foreground and background, and 3-Dimensionality is defined by having dimensions of width, length, and height; the opposite would be something that appears 2-D, or flat. When something has depth and 3-Dimensionality, it has realism - it looks like we can reach out and grab it!

So how does an artist see this and how do they do it? Artists notice light all around them, and notice how light impacts the value of an object. We can ask, “where is the light source coming from?” Then we can ask, “Where the darkest area is on an object?” Then we find the lightest area - we can practice all this with our hands, too! Let’s make a value scale. A value scale is a lesson that artists use to practice the lightness or darkness shift between values.

Do you see how one box value gently goes up and down in lightness and darkness? That’s what we are gently working on! We want it to be very subtle shifts, or gradients, between the boxes.

Activity: Can you recreate the value scale using pencil or graphite? Shade very lightly on the first squares, increasing slowly and adding pressure as you reach the end.

Let’s take a look at Michael Rajnicek’s work below. Can you find the darkest value? Can you find the lightest value? Check out Michael’s work during ArtPrize at BH Gallery!