Value - The Element of Shadow
The word "value" is used a lot around this site and with good reason. Value is one of the seven elements of art. Value deals with the lightness or darkness of a color. Since we see objects and understand objects because of how dark or light they are, value is incredible important to art. (I'll remind you that drawing and painting is about seeing.)
Value deals directly to light. We see things because light reflects off of objects and goes into our eyes. Our mind processes the light and rationalizes what we are seeing. Without light, we cannot see anything.In order to draw or paint in a way that creates an illusion of what we normally see, we must fully understand light and how it reacts on surfaces. Value is the key to the illusion of light. This is why value is so incredibly important to drawing and painting.
Successful Artwork has a Full Range of Value
Artworks that exhibit a full range of value are generally successful. It doesn't matter the type of art you are creating. As long as there are dark values in harmony with light values, your artwork will most likely be aesthetically pleasing. A full range of value means that they are ample amounts of light values- called tints, and dark values - called shades. To be sure that you have a full range of value in your artwork you may create a value scale...
Using a value scale, you can be sure that you create a full range of value. Many artists use a value scale as they work, identifying specific values and adding them in appropriate spots.
Take this apple for example...
Image Source
If we were totake out all color, we would still see the apple and recognize it as an apple. In other words, we are just showing the values of the apple...
If we take this one step furtherand isolate eight of the values, we can see where we would need to draw or paint the values...
Using Value in Drawings
The whole point to value is to create the illusion of light. So value is used to basically create the illusion of highlights and shadows. Highlights and shadows combine to create the illusion of a light source. Remember, without light we cannot see. So technically, without a light source, you have no illusion.
This is why value is mentioned so frequently on all of the art instruction videos and pages on this website. It's important. If you understand and implement value correctly in your drawings and paintings, you will see immediate improvement. Value is essential to success.
Value - Terms
Value - Element of art associated with the darkness or lightness of a color
Light source - area in which light is originating from
Value scale - a guide to creating a range of value, good pieces of art have a full range of value
Tints - light values
Shades - dark values
Highlights - areas on an object where light is hitting
Shadows- areas on an object where light does not hit
FAQs
Value defines how light or dark a given color or hue can be. Values are best understood when visualized as a scale or gradient, from dark to light. The more tonal variants in an image, the lower the contrast.
What is the most important elements of art justify your answer? ›
There is no element that is the most important because the elements do not stand alone. The elements are merely those nameable things we identify in an artwork: line, shape, form, color, value, texture, and space. For instance, an artwork that simply has a line in it will also have space, color, value. and shape.
Why is it important to know the elements of art? ›
Elements of art are important mainly because they combine to make a work of art interesting to the viewer. Various combinations have different effects on audiences, with artists using elements of art to display their creativity or send a message through their art.
How to determine the value of art? ›
By taking into account its historical, aesthetic, and social context, you can determine a fair and equitable price for the artwork that reflects its true worth. Art valuation involves a deep appreciation for the cultural significance of art, as well as the economic and commercial forces that shape the art market.
What is arts elements value? ›
Volume is the amount of space occupied by an object. When artists enclose a space with materials that are not completely solid, they create an open volume.
What are the 7 elements of art? ›
The seven elements of art are line, shape, space, value, form, texture, and color.
How do art and its elements influence life? ›
Art can help us understand our history, our culture, our lives, and the experience of others in a manner that cannot be achieved through other means. It can also be a source of inspiration, reflection, and joy.
What are the 4 most important elements in art? ›
The Elements of Art that we have discussed are all important in what makes a work of art interesting. Line, Color, Shape, and Texture can be used individually, or combined together to create more impact. It is the artist's decision in how they want to use them according to their style of art.
What is the most basic element of art? ›
Line is the most basic visual element. Lines can be used to define shapes and figures, but also to indicate motion, emotion, and other elements.
Why are elements of design important? ›
The elements of design are the fundamental aspects of any visual design which include shape, color, space, form, line, value, and texture. Graphic designers use the elements of design to create an image that can convey a certain mood, draw the eye in a certain direction, or evoke a number of feelings.
Value in art is essentially how light or dark something is on a scale of white to black (with white being the highest value and black being the lowest value). It is widely considered to be one of the most important variables to the success of a painting, even more so than your selection of color (hue).
Why is line the most important Element of Art? ›
A line is the fundamental element in all drawings considered to be a moving dot and is used as a visual definition of shapes and plays a vital role in expressing emotion, form, texture, and motion. A line serves to be the foundation of a more significant aesthetic expression and is integral to all drawings.
What defines the value of art? ›
That is, an artwork can have many different valuable features, but the only one that determines its artistic value, its value qua art, is its aesthetic value. Yet this just doesn't appear to be how we view artworks. Instead, form and content work together to bear the value of the work qua art.
Why do we value art so much? ›
Another relevant element of art value is societal meaning. Art indeed is a means of communication, as it passes ideas, values, feelings, concepts, which might be received differently by each observer but still vehiculate ideas concerning society and human condition.
How to have art valued? ›
If the name is not clear you may need to use a professional dealer or auction house to attribute the artwork. If you suspect that your picture is valuable, take it to a specialist fine art auctioneer, such as Bonham's, Christie's or Sotheby's.
Which is the best definition of value? ›
Value has to do with how much something is worth, either in terms of cash or importance. As a verb, it means "holding something in high regard," (like "I value our friendship") but it can also mean "determine how much something is worth," like a prize valued at $200.
What is the element of art value activity? ›
How to Teach Value to Kids Ages & Stages: What to Teach and When
- Create a value scale that goes from light to dark.
- Create tints and shades, having fun mixing in white and black.
- Create a monochromatic work, showing kids how you can use one color, white, and black to create an entire work of art.
The market subscribes to principles of supply and demand. The more desirable a piece, the more people are willing to pay for it. This however, is only the case if the artwork is rare. If there is high demand for a piece but several prints are available, the market value decreases.
How do we see value? ›
Simply put: Value is how light or dark a color is. White holds the lightest value, and black is the darkest value. Our eyes see first in light and dark, and see color second.
