VALUE

This value scale has only 11 steps, but the human eye can perceive up to 40 distinct gradations of value!

The relationship between color and value:

How would one change the natural value of a color?

Mostly light values in this artwork:

Toba Khedoori,

Contemporary American,

graphite on paper

Mostly dark values in this artwork:

Rembrandt Van Rijn,

17th C. Dutch,

Etching

(Chiaroscuro)

Another example of the relationship between value and emotional tone:

The Penitent Magdalene,

Georges De la Tour,

17th C. French

Mostly dimly contrasting values in this painting by Monet (19th C. French)

Robert Rauschenburg, White Painting (1951)

And now: some Ad Reinhardt Black Paintings (1960’s)

But what more can value do for you?

Value creates the illusion of volume in 2-dimensional forms:

Gordon Cook,

American,

1980’s

Peter Paul Rubens (17th C Flemish)

Rembrandt van Rijn (17th C Dutch)

Georges Seurat

19th C French

Gerhard Richter

Contemporary German

Contemporary photographer Sze Tsung Leong demonstrates how value contrasts can create the illusion of very deep space—a phenomenon called Atmospheric Perspective.

Note how your perception of the particular lightness or darkness of a value changes depending on the values that are next to it.

This is a concept called Simultaneous Contrast.

Project Number Three: Value Scale Collage We are going to make a value scale that uses collage as a medium for creating a gradation of lights and shadows. Using your ruler and graphite pencil, create a 9”x4” rectangle (or some other similar long-sided dimension) on a sheet of Bristol Board, then start finding, sorting, and cutting your small collage elements in order to eventually and gradually glue them inside this rectangle in a manner that creates a smooth transition from black on one side to white on the other. Use your printed-out value scale to help you determine the correct value (and ultimate position) of the small pieces of collage elements that you will gather from glossy magazines, photographs, or high quality computer print-outs.  Hint: try to find and assemble all (or at least most) of your collage elements before you glue them down. Keeping the pieces organized in individual envelopes as you work is also helpful. Also: you might want to create a particular theme for your collage with the imagery you choose.  Once the value scale has been completed, you can then use the paper cutter to shave off the edges of your value scale, if desired.

student work

And now for the demo…