VALUE

Value is the range of light to dark (luminosity)

Value Can:

Create emphasis- create a focal point
Create contrast – the difference between light and dark
Create form – the illusion of 3D shapes
Create texture – the surface quality of an object
Create variation – using different values to create interest in an art piece; variation in value helps “set the mood” of the piece

Value Uses:

Value can be used for emphasis.
Variations in value are used to create a focal point for the design of a picture. (spotlight effect)
A light figure on a dark background will be immediately recognized as the center of attention.
We do not look at the shadows, but instead the lighter areas of the image

Similarly for a dark figure for a mostly light background

Value creating contrast:

The light face next to the dark background creates contrast

Value creating variety

The use of different values in the same drawing creates variety

Value creating texture:

Value can be used to create the sense of texture
The closer that two lines or dots are to each other, the darker the image or area will appear. Lines or dots farther away from each other will make the area appear lighter in value.
In the example of the cat, the more lines that are used to denote fur will make the fur appear darker. In areas of the cat that have darker tones such as shadows, the lines to create the sense of texture will appear packed in closer together.

Value creating form (dimension)

Without shading, the image looks flat, two-dimensional.
The contour of the hand is defined correctly but lacks volume.

Areas of light and dark can give a three-dimensional impression.
Shading creates realistic lighting.

Creating Dimension:

The image is made up of:

Highlights (the lightest areas)
Midtones
Shadows (the darkest areas)

Value Scale:

A value Scale is a scale that shows the gradual change in value from its lightest value (white) to its darkest value (black).

Rendering (Shading) Techniques

There are many ways to create the illusion of value and form within a drawing or painting. Here are several ways to apply or render value in your drawings.

1. Blending

Blending is a technique in which shading is applied by smoothing out the values so they blend into each other. Blending requires layering values on top of each other and creating the illusion of a seamless transition from one value to another. Blending requires the artist to patiently and consistently shade an area. There are tools and techniques that artists can use to achieve a smooth blend such as a blending stump or a tortillon, a paper towel or even the artist's own fingers.

2. Hatching

Hatching is shading with a series of lines going in any one particular direction.

Hatching lines will be parallel to each other
the closer the lines are to each other, the darker the area will appear
The farther away the lines are to each other, the lighter the area will appear
Lines can be vertical, horizontal or diagonal
lines can be thick, thin or a combination of both

3. Cross-Hatching

Cross Hatching is shading with a series of lines going in two directions.

As the name implies, cross-hatching consists of hatching lines that intersect or cross
The more cross-hatch marks that you make, the darker the area will appear
the less cross-hatch marks that you make, the lighter the area will appear
distance between lines will create the illusion of shading
cross-hatch lines can go in multiple directions
lines can be thick, thin or a combination

4. Stippling

Stippling is when you apply value to a drawing using a series of tiny dots

The more dots you apply to an area, the darker the area will appear
Making some dots bigger will also make the area appear darker.
Making some dots smaller will make the area appear lighter
The distance between the dots also affects value. The farther apart the dots are, lighter the area appears. The closer the dots are to each other, the darker the area will appear.
The advantage of stippling is that it allows the artist to exercise a great deal of control over the drawing that he or she is creating. The downside of stippling is that it can be really tiring and time consuming.
Stippling is done best when applied with ink pens of various grades. For example, Micron pens of 08 grade will leave a significant black dot on the paper. The lower the grade, the smaller the dot size. Dot sizes of 005 are the lowest dot that micron pens and other such pens can go to.
Stippling is part of a style of art called pointillism.

5. Scumbling

SCUMBLING, also sometimes called “brillo pad technique” is a bit less controlled and more random, and involves using your pen or pencil to make lots of random, squiggly marks to build up areas of shadow. It creates interesting texture, and requires a certain amount of looseness and impulsivity. When scumbling, try drawing lots of little round loops, squiggles, and figure-eight like shapes, layering them or applying them in tighter marks to create darker areas, with looser, less overlapped marks for lighter areas.

Rendering examples:

SHADING & MARK MAKING GUIDE

How to shade a jug

Chiaroscuro

Chiaroscuro is an art technique which uses strong contrast of light and dark to create a dramatic effect on a drawing or painting

Comes from the Italian words "chiaro" which means clear or light and "Oscuro" which means opaque or dark
Perfected by the artist known as Caravaggio
Caravaggio's followers were known as Caravaggisti

ELEMENTS OF ART

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