Value studies for better painting ✧ How I paint value studies

[@Blick_Art]

This is a great way to tune your sensitivities to value so you can quickly establish the basic structure of any painting! We love the tips for finding the strongest contrasts. Contrast is such an important concept to grasp, because if you're just looking at lightest lights and darkest darks without considering the relationships where colors interact, you might end up going "off the scale" in the wrong passage and find that you still need to dig deeper than the palette allows. Very nicely done!

[@christinakentart]

Totally agree! I have definitely gone "off the scale" a few times... and still do! Studies like this help me get back on track :)

[@inciyoutube]

This is really helpful, Christina, thank you! I’ve been trying to improve how i use values and i’ll remember your tips! Also i loved your studio decoration 💓💓

[@christinakentart]

Thanks 🥰 So glad you found it helpful!

[@KristenOckertFineArt]

I love watching these as it’s one area I am always trying to get better at. Thanks for sharing!

[@christinakentart]

Thanks Kristen! :)

[@lulabelle33]

This simplification is so useful. And you are very good at it. You're inspiring me to do the same. These are things I learned long ago, but rarely utilize currently. I see this could dramatically improve a building portrait

[@christinakentart]

Thanks, I'm glad you find it helpful! Happy painting :)

[@nitinD008]

The main shadow shape is quite arresting. Thanks for the video! What painting medium are you using and do you have to prime your sketchbook before painting on it?

[@christinakentart]

Thank you! For my sketchbook, I paint using acrylic gouache. I use a moleskine art sketchbook and don’t prime the paper. It warps a little, but overall holds the paint ok :)

[@OfficerBlowFish]

Thank you for the info :)

[@christinakentart]

No problem, happy painting!

[@LisaZoe86]

What would you do with grey day photos? Do you ever paint a scene that is not strongly lit and has deep shadows for contrast?

[@christinakentart]

Great question! I usually go for extremes - either strongly lit with deep shadows and contrast, or a lot of fog and atmosphere where edges of shapes are blurred. If I have to paint on an overcast day, I focus more on subtle shifts of temperature and hue, and I soften edges more as if there were some fog. However, it is something I am still learning to do.

[@LisaZoe86]

@@christinakentart I have so many photos from overcast days that I had hoped to be sunny and would make great references for my paintings. I find it very hard to create anything decent based on those. I am not crazy about very dull grey landscape paintings but I do love moody landscapes! If you have any further recommendations, demos or thoughts on how you go about this issue I would be delighted.