Painting Accurate Values

The value masses drive most paintings. So getting then in accurately is important. But accurate to what? A photo, life, or your painting's needs.
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[@markdonovan1540]

A simple, yet huge take away: ensure that the values SERVE the painting. Thank you Ian, for these gems of insight.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Well said. Thank you and glad you liked it Mark

[@smarterthanawaffle]

The Painting Coach was singing your praises just yesterday if you haven't hear already.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Yes, someone told me about and it and I went and watched. I thought that was very kind and generous. I left a message thanking him on his Instagram account.

[@MrDs131]

As a watercolorist things are not as simple and require more planning but the essence of what you teach is still invaluable.

[@geraldmiller347]

Ditto David, I work in Acrylics but yes, Ian's insights are applicable across materials

[@nompaintedthis]

yes I apply this to watercolours too. He covers the basics of painting and visualising very well!

[@DavidMiltonJones]

I agree. Composition and value are relevant to all media. Get lots from Ian's tutorials.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI David, you know they call watercolor the medium of the masters because one most watercolor artists are looking for that nice loose look and using the accidents AND it takes a lot of planning so that is possible. But I'm delighted you find the videos helpful.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted to know it Gerald.

[@janey2562]

A real artist. He knows well the craft. He is the one we should seriously learn from

[@paintingsofwaves_mikewoning]

That was a bit more in depth analysis of how our attention moves through the painting: loved it! Very informative and soothing to watch. So much to learn still... pfff. Thanks!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Wonderful! Enjoy the process, and have fun.

[@RoseDragoness]

This is amazing break down of values. Usually I got the impression that accurate value is what accurate like in real life!

[@thebirdartistscottage]

Hearing you walk through the composition of this painting was so helpful, Ian. I really appreciated learning about the choices you were making and what you were changing versus what you left in from the photo. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us so generously!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome. Glad you found it helpful.

[@abinlp]

Great timing for me, with this video. I'm at the point in painting to learn these things. Not using values had been what kept my paintings from the next level. The way you've explained it in this video is so helpful and such an important thing for painters to learn. Especially when you point out "its the values WITHIN the painting that matter." Not the plein air in front of you, or the photo you're working from, but the painting. Its priceless information. All of your videos are great, but this one is really special.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Alan. Really glad that idea hit home. All the best.

[@G1g1658]

Loved how you led the eye to the center of interest way back and not only the value shifts, but the subtle color temperature shifts. This painting sings!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you very much! What a compliment.

[@joannesharpe6137]

This is so helpful. Perhaps I'm just getting dialled in, but listening to your thinking and watching paint go onto your canvas at the same time has really resonated for me this morning. I may try a 'copy' of this painting to reinforce the learnings. Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Joanne, makes me happy to hear the video resonated with you. Making a copy's a good plan if that idea inspires you. Good luck with it. All the best.

[@ClayExtrudingExpert]

Hello. This painting of yours suggests to me, yet again, the importance of knowing when to stop. For me, as a novice, my wife plays an important role in my development, especially when I'm painting outdoors. Namely, she tells me when to stop by sweetly saying in this coaching whisper of hers, "Stop messing with it or you're going to screw it all up!" Thanks, again, Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Daryl, it's true thought. You can get your head so into the details that you lose sight of the whole. And an outside viewer can see the whole and isn't buried in the weeds. With practice you start to keep both those visions alive at the same time - the whole and the parts. But one thing I'd say is spend way more time standing back and looking at how it is coming together because lots of things that you can get buried in you can't even see from 8-10 feet away. Viewing distance. But bravo to your wife's eye.

[@ClayExtrudingExpert]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition Early on, I followed the oil painter Mark Carder who said to regularly move back to 7 ft. and assess the painting. This is consonant with your advice. Some paintings just look better from a distance since the small flaws are less obvious. It seems that the trouble with submitting a photograph of a painting for a contest is that it is typically photographed in a close-up crop to the edge of the canvas. One wonders, then, if the judge will look at the photo from his/her desktop or from 7 ft. away.

[@prodbymorii2058]

You are a genius when it comes to composition and colors.

[@timliddy731]

Great lesson on where to place the contrast and stronger values. Thanks.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome

[@ejfalias4696]

no shenanigans. just incredibly helpful. what great resource you are. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're very welcome!

[@gaildailey6038]

Love the greens. It would be great to know what colors you use to get these muted greens.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Gail. I did a long form demo on how to paint greens ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmWtdIWGjNlkm6M ). You can also type in July 27, 2021 on my KZbin channel and you'll find it. and the week before July 20. Hope that helps.

[@jeanbyrd7444]

Great lesson thank you Ian! First time I've heard a Master say that the artist chooses the values🙏

[@martigreen7229]

I have been watching you for over a year, you are my saving Grace as I struggle with value and light. You are the best with explaining. Your a beautiful artists and I admire you and your work. Thank you for taking the time to helping other artists. Bless you.

[@anikatasnim6001]

you're an incredibly good teacher and you help with genuine problems artists have, you're like a guardian angel😇

[@paresh4914]

Wow the atmosphere created with the background is so amazing!!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Paresh!

[@selftrue670]

A true master class. Just brilliant. Thank you, Ian!

[@timcat61]

Fantastic demo !

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you like it!

[@sschwenk1]

This 11 minute lesson was more informative and powerful than watching a 2 hour demo in a workshop. Pure and without interruption and chit chat. I enjoy every Tuesday morning because of your lessons. Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Makes me very happy to hear. Thank you so much

[@darcymanwaring1489]

This really helped tremendously. I so often get stuck with photos trying to match values in frustration sets in and never finish. This is so exciting to know and be aware of. Thank you again for such an excellent video.

[@jonquilbennett8411]

Beautiful painting, and SUCH useful teaching . . . . thank you so much Ian! Again and again youre helping me to remember that I'm doing a painting that works, not copying a scene or photograph. I'm really enjoying being a "member of your art school"!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are very welcome Jonquil! Delighted you are enjoying the videos so much

[@pchabanowich]

This seascape 'design' creates a longing in me; the actual immensity of it is calling me to the place of mists and tides and mysteries. The values of which you speak are in full play here. ❣

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted that you found it useful.

[@mothereartha7]

Bravo , lm an accomplished painter, but l needed to see your work, l tend to get lost in detail, rather than the vital components, thank you so much.

[@atulpande9774]

You are an amazing teacher. I learn something new, or understand something better, with each video lesson. Thank you.

[@gorgeousli]

such a helpful video...my takeaway just like Mark Donovan..."ensure that the values serve the painting". Thank you so much for this.

[@marthacanady9441]

Just beautiful, Ian. I see your point exactly about serving the outcome of the painting not the photo. I see what drew you to take the picture, but your painting is just much more striking. LOVE IT.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much Martha!

[@jultolentino7515]

A gem of knowledge & simplified.thank you sir ian "GOD BLESS & TAKE CARE."

[@f.m.a.3206]

Thank you for the explanation about values in photography.

[@cynthiasenerchia2441]

Great demo of a complicated scene. Thank you!

[@oficinamaolivre]

Thank you! Like

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you! Glad you liked it

[@vincenth9751]

Simply helping to understand what is values but I think the composition of painting will be a very important too ? I believe my eye what I could see much better than photo. Thank you so much. Ian Roberts .

[@Cass99k]

this place is a treasure, easily one of the very best (and in some aspects, actually the best) youtube painting channel

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much. That is very nice of you to say

[@catherinevigouroux2624]

merci pour tout ce que vous partgez en veritable professeur, j"ai enormement appris de vos enseignements😊

[@domhardycreative1635]

No-one has helped me more with helping to transition around a painting, you made it easy to understand and apply to my paintings with confidence! Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome Dom!

[@dvango2023]

WOW! I see the light! Thank you Ian. I have struggled with value for so long. I knew what value was but never explained to me how to use it. Instead I tried hard to make it match what I saw in front of me. Wasn’t working!

[@donutley7975]

Thank you, Ian. This may be the most helpful lesson yet. It is inspiring to see that a shift in thinking can lead to such subtlety in the painting-and yet such a profound difference in the satisfaction of creating it. This was very helpful.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you Don

[@charlesemery84]

The idea of using value to serve the painting is very valuable. My tendency is always to try and portray the picture accurately but this idea will really expand my compositional approach. Thanks

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Delighted you found the concept so helpful. All the best

[@michaelbooth7000]

Nice tutorial, I think I recognize this location in Cambria. Great place for walks and painting!

[@suzannebonham583]

Love this painting and demonstration - thank you!

[@brendachristianson6025]

I am so enjoying Ian’s advice and find him to be an excellent teacher, as a person who’s been just getting back into making art after a very long pause. Thank you Ian

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are most welcome Brenda. Good luck reengaging. All the best.

[@scraytonify1]

As a former English teacher and art teacher, I really appreciate the perfectly narrated and articulated information alongside the art. A feast for the eyes and ears!

[@ewadochniak6583]

I was just admiring his way of speaking and wondering how it is possibile that I understand everything what Ian is talking about ☺️ 🙄 as I have no contact with English at all 😄 I really love listening to him 🧡 ( sorry for my English 🤦)

[@scraytonify1]

@@ewadochniak6583 Yes, he is a humble person and that is very refreshing. He is also generous and giving of his time and talent. I learn a lot from him. Are you from Poland?

[@ewadochniak6583]

@@scraytonify1 Yes, I'm from Poland 😊

[@scraytonify1]

@@ewadochniak6583 My grandparents were from Poland. I think from Krakow area. I am from Atlanta, Georgia (USA). I have not been to Poland but I got a chance to go to Koenigsburg near you. Everyone looked like my relatives. It was great!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much. Really appreciate your telling me. All the best.

[@paul-oram]

These are wonderfully informative movies Ian. Thankyou for all your efforts.

[@jamesaustin7324]

You are a fabulous teacher. Thank you.

[@muraliram8802]

Excellent demonstration. Thankyou !

[@artwithmycoffee]

Excellent lesson and tips! I found this extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@lovewillwinnn]

Thank you for helping the world get some values. They certainly are lacking these days.

[@lucillegrooms5948]

I am so grateful I stumbled upon your KZbin channel. Your a gifted teacher. Thanks

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome Lucille

[@lambchop6278]

That was excellent. I love your lessons. I think I am learning more from you that will help my painting then... well, possibly from any teacher!

[@glendagraves1637]

Thanks. Clear. Concise. Instructive.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad it was helpful Glenda.

[@bibibrin5035]

Brilliant tutorial!! 👏 thank you!!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Bibi.

[@leilaluginbill916]

What a wonderful way to wake up! I really like Tuesdays, watching you paint and having my first cup of coffee. It’s a beautiful painting. Thanks👍

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Wonderful! I hope you enjoy your cup of coffee. All the best

[@catbraunwell6450]

Such well explained information. And your painting is way more gorgeous than the photo

[@sachet22]

Absolutely scrumptious use of color, value and design. New to the channel but going back over the many different lessons. Big Thanks because your content is easy to understand and thus useful and engaging.

[@BarBaraWhorleyCrawfordESS]

Brilliant. Thank you. I always learn so much. 🖼🖌🎨

[@teachies902]

thank you! this is the second video of yours that i've watched, and i'm learning a lot.

[@careymilne9501]

So excited to find this channel. Started watching last night and can’t stop - so super helpful and informative. Thank you!!

[@Phylthya]

This is magical! So glad I found your channel. I never understood values, but you explain it so well that I can finally begin to comprehend. Your videos convey this crucial but often vaguely-explained information incredibly well and I believe they might just be what I need. A subscription well-earned. Looking forward to all your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us, it is greatly appreciated.

[@odissey100100]

I'm an accomplished drawer. I even teach drawing and won a few prices. But painting is incredibly hard to master. No matter how hard I try, it always look amateurish and uninteresting. I understand what you say, I just can't put it in practice. You are amazingly talented, mister Roberts.

[@Artiswhack]

Very cool lesson, would have loved to see the mixing of values as an aid to this lesson

[@marshagibbons7090]

You make it look so easy!!! Aghhh. I love your work.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much.

[@laurataggart8018]

Thank you. I appreciate the distinction you just drew between the value needed for the painting vs being true to the photo. That is a leap I really need to make.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Laura. I hope you find it useful!

[@ianbrowne8871]

My Tuesday treat whichI look forward to with a mug of black coffee - you have me well trained! A very good complement to last week's demonstration - this time you showed how effective blues and green/greys can be in creating a sense of distance. The sense came over of a misty warm autumnal day where the salt spray changes the visual and atmospheric conditions. Yet the foreground with its deep shadow, creates the sense of a sheltered nook away for the onshore wind. I liked you analysis of the different modes of seeing - what you see mediated through a lens, what you see when looking at a photographic print, what one sees after software in a digital or phone camera has processed an image and what the human eye picks - all these things are different. When painting en plain air you then have to cope with light changing and unless trained, the eye does not always pick up on the subtleties that you have brought out today.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Ian. Glad you enjoyed the video, with your coffee. You nailed what I was trying to convey. It was exactly that, early morning autumn light with the thin layer of fog burning off. You bring out a good distinction. The advantage of the photo in that is doesn't change but looses a lot of information. And plein air where you have too much information but it is obviously accurate, but it's changing all the time as well.

[@atroutflycrazy8057]

Thankyou Ian that was great, values that serve the painting ,wow amazing and great to hear such a statement, we should never be fixed but flexible in our choices of what may improve a scene , after all artistically we adapt the colours all time the time so why not adjust values if it improves the painting.

[@timothyleslie8832]

This is one of my most favorite paintings. And the explanation of the relative values was very enlightening. I'm sure that you may have explained the same thing before, but this time, with this illustration, the light simply turned on in my mind. I understood the difficulty I've struggled with in some of my maritime paintings, and more importantly, how to fix it. Thank you.

[@springtime445]

Gosh I’m going to learn so much from your videos. Thank you so much.

[@Orangebouganvillea]

I’m so impressed, thank you so much.

[@colleenv7457]

Lovely painting, Ian. I liked your tip on painting the foreground shrubs...putting in just a few of the spikes instead of a larger mass of shaggy edges.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ernestkemp9378]

Great lessons - great presentation skills - you have hooked a new viewer.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you Ernest!

[@christinakgross]

A landscape painting of such strong composition and depth a viewer can easily and joyously fall into. Your carefully orchestrated values of mass and hue make magic. Happy Thanksgiving for another memorable art lesson, Ian.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Christina. Glad you liked the video, and the painting. All the very best for Thanksgiving to you as well.

[@houghwhite411]

Thank you for the color guide

[@sheilatrunzo4423]

Thank you for clarifying the point of value 'in service of' the photograph vs 'in service of' the painting. Lovely painting!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alisonhendry2928]

Tea and Tuesday mornings with Ian, yay! Getting used to having my head shake with respect and wow! You make it so easy to understand. Such a master! So glad I found your book and that you continue sharing with your groupies.. this was amazing light and shadow and mist and rationale for it all. Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much Alison. Very happy to hear that you are enjoying both the books and the videos. "Tea and Tuesday mornings with Ian" - sounds like a new reality show!

[@alisonhendry2928]

@@IanRobertsMasteringComposition 😂😂except a good one!

[@Alexander-vg4ss]

Very talented :) And you have a calm, soothing voice to paint to

[@ChristopherHemsworthCreative]

Absolutely terrific video here, Ian, thank you. I often struggle with whether I should be painting what the eye sees in terms of value/dynamic range, or whether to paint as the camera sees. What I'm getting from you here is that it just needs to be a choice? A design choice, essentially?

[@deborahrech7429]

You are an awesome teacher! What a lesson in subtlety.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much Deborah.

[@artgrungyjunkjournalrad7849]

Super content as always! Thank you!

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are so welcome

[@kunalkulkarni542]

Values are the pillars of any painting. Very informative Ian !!! Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you liked it Kunal.

[@ARTPAINTING101]

Simply a remarkable concept, game changing

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much James

[@andrewwykes4137]

So glad you have a copy of Patrick George’s painting on your shelf. A great British painter, Andrew Wykes

[@gosiaplummer4794]

So beautiful!!!!! I am really thinking about trying oils!!!!! Just to follow mr roberts!

[@양선희-e5p]

I am getting a lot of help because you teach me everriting about oil paintingsystematically and easily Tannk you so much for the good vidio that you can't see on other You Tube.

[@maxinebutcher379]

Learning so much here. Thank you.

[@auntchristineandvalentino3122]

Also a watercolor painter and what you're teaching us about "value masses" is the best lesson I've heard re values. Watercolor painters tend to obsess abiut how many levels of value a given color can achieve by adding water. And, frankly that has (had) created an irrational fear of painting in me!!!! Because, I simply cannot see those six or ten or twelve steps. Value masses I CAN SEE and achieve without obsessive swatching of my watercolor palette.

[@auntchristineandvalentino3122]

P.S. Light and dark. 👍🏼 great demo. Thank you

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks so much. Delighted you found the video helpful and perhaps freed something about painting values in watercolor. All the best.

[@peterwillems8721]

Wonderful painting It's 100% working as a very adequate work about raking light/shadow and atmospheric perspective. Congrats. We're indeed painters, nót machines merely copying photo's or copying what we literally see. We interpret our sensations, we arrange and show how wé see the world around us. Very liberating thoughts ... Thanks

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

HI Peter. Glad you liked the video. And yes, we are not slaves to copying.

[@tziporaneemanfeder1813]

Phew, so great a lesson. I think I'm going to watch it a few times. Thanks, Ian !

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it Tzipora.

[@mountainside26]

Another beautiful moment- thank you for your generosity with your talent and skills- so helpful.

[@mohandoctor1930]

Value is so valuable.. great demonstration..! Thanks sir 👌😊

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thanks and welcome Mohan.

[@craigseaborn4222]

Wow that was fantastic Ian , thank you for your clarity of vision and explanation of value masses. I have always been bothered by my photos and why they didn't portray what I remembered when taking them. Thank you for taking us along as you produced a beautiful work of art. Craig

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Glad you enjoyed it Craig. All the best

[@huyart2395]

If I had one wish, I just wish someone would see me draw like you. I really admire your talent, thank you for giving everyone a relaxing moment.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Thank you so much. That is nice of you to say

[@kamleshsunak3176]

Thanks you Ian for this demo. Look forward to next week.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You are welcome Kamlesh.

[@sherryblack7586]

What a fantastic lesson this was! Thank you.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

You're very welcome!

[@jesuslagarto8499]

eres un colorista fabuloso! amo tu trabajo. Gracias por compartir tus conocimientos

[@scottpitner4298]

Making that scene look easy! Great painting and explanation of value choices for the scene to read the way the artist wants instead of having to stick with what’s live or how a photo looks. A lot of freedom in the idea that you could go on location and paint a bright sunny scene in a different way such a overcast, moody :)

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

I'm delighted you enjoyed it. Thank you!

[@neilbarton7216]

Wonderful transition from a very dark composition through the different stages showing the lights and pulling us in…. Thank you Ian.

[@barbaraballantine5270]

New to your channel & enjoying your instruction. I’m a tight painter & studying how to loosen up with your explanation. I really need work on values, so this was a perfect one for me.

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Hi Barbara, delighted you are enjoying the videos.

[@metinkaraca2190]

You are a very good teacher sir.

[@geraldmiller347]

Values, Values, Values, as usual my primary problem, back to reworking my Cliffs and River, Thanks Ian

[@IanRobertsMasteringComposition]

Happy to help Gerald. Have fun and enjoy the process