Value is one of the most important tools in an artist’s toolkit. It’s the lightness or darkness of a color, separate from its hue and intensity. Learning to see and use value correctly is essential for creating realistic and compelling paintings.
The way you use value color dramatically affects the light, form, and depth in your artwork. Master value, and you can make your paintings jump off the canvas.
In this article, we’ll explore what value is, how to improve your value perception, and some simple exercises you can do to start mastering this critical element of art.