The One Rule
If the values are right, the colors can be wrong and the painting will still work.
This quote summarizes decades of artistic wisdom. Value (the relative lightness or darkness of a color) is the foundation of all visual art. Get the values right, and your work will have depth, form, and impact. Get them wrong, and even perfect color choices won't save your composition.
Why Values Matter
Our eyes are far more sensitive to value than to color. This is why:
- Black and white photos still look realistic
- Forms appear three-dimensional through light and shadow (values)
- Compositions "read" from a distance primarily through value contrast
- Master artists spend 80% of their effort on values, 20% on color
A Simple Daily Practice
Pick a Reference Photo
Choose a photo with clear light and shadow. Portraits, still life, or landscapes all work well. Start simple and avoid complex scenes.
Squint at It
Squinting blurs details and helps you see the major value shapes. This is the oldest trick in the book.
Use Value Study App
Load your photo into the app and experiment with these tools:
- Posterize: Reduce to 3-5 values to see major shapes
- Grayscale: Remove color to focus on light and dark
- Notan Mode: Extreme 2-value view (pure black and white)
Try a Thumbnail Sketch
On paper or digitally, try making a small (2-3 inch) sketch with just 3-5 values. Focus on the big shapes of light and dark rather than details.
Compare and Learn
Put your sketch next to the app's simplified version. What did you miss? Where did you go too light or too dark? This comparison makes the difference.
Time Investment
Try this for about 10 minutes per day for 30 days. Your eye will develop faster than you expect.
Many people see noticeable improvement within 2 weeks of regular practice.
Common Mistakes to Watch For
Not Going Dark Enough
Many beginners hesitate with dark values. The app can help you see where the true darks are. Try pushing your darks further than feels comfortable and see how it looks.
Using Too Many Values
Starting with 3-5 values is easier than jumping to 10. The posterize tool in the app lets you experiment with different value counts to see what works.
Getting Lost in Details
Big shapes first, details later. The notan and posterize modes help you see the structure before getting caught up in smaller elements.
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