Napkin on Box by Margaret Stermer-Cox

November Value Study Month

Brain Spark!

Hi!  I had a flash of insight this morning.  I thought I’d make November “Value Study Month”.  Nah, maybe, ummm, YES!

Why  Value Studies

  • Painting them supports some of my personal artistic growth
  • I want to be able to see as an artist.  Oddly enough, you can learn to see values, shapes, lines and the other elements an artists needs to compose a painting.
  • I want to create stronger paintings in my “Drawing Talent” series.  I noticed that the paintings I’ve done so far do not have a lot of contrast.  They tend to be mid-range in value.
  • I want to be able to think with a brush.  The Masters such as Rembrandt, Goya, Picasso and Singer Sargent could create with their brushes.  This is a skill I value.

Plus, a good value study can be visual poetry.

Value Study = Light & Dark

Just to clarify, when I’m doing value studies, I’m focusing on the light and darks of my subject.  I’m not interested in color.

What’s exciting to me is that the light and dark pattern provides structure for a drawing or painting.  It holds things together.

Today’s value study is of my favorite napkin; it’s stiff enough to hold the folds.  Plus, a box for contrast and perspective practice!

Napkin on Box by Margaret Stermer-Cox

 

 

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