Learn about Values! Step by Step! Class #2

The Magic of Values in the Acrylic Landscape. Class #2

by Karen Ilari 

Develop your 5 Value Block In to Full Value

After our last class, we now have our large shapes of solid value in the right locations on our canvas. Yours should look something like this:

Now we want to further develop this sketch. How do I do that?!
Keep these things in mind:

• All you need to do is break the LARGE shapes into SMALLER shapes.
• Maintain the same overall VALUE in the area.
• Just refine the shapes to more accurately match your reference. 
• Think about SIZE, SHAPE, and PLACEMENT of each spot of value
• Still using the same 1/2" flat brush.
• Don't think about DETAIL, just breaking down the large shapes into smaller ones.
•  Pay attention to the EDGES of your shapes. Should they be soft and blended or hard and crisp?
• Take your time. Study what you really see in your reference. Don't assume anything. Really look at what is there paint it the way you see it.

This is how you TRAIN YOUR EYE to focus on value. It takes practice. Just knowing what you should do is no substitute for picking up your brush and laying down the paint. You need to develop those pathways from your eye to your mind to your hand until it feels like the mind is no longer even involved. Straight from your eye to your hand. It becomes automatic. But ONLY after you spend the time practicing your craft!

EDGES           
What does that mean?
Instead of thinking about the image you are painting as THINGS - trees, bushes, flowers. I want you to think of them as SHAPES with a certain VALUE, COLOR, EDGE, SIZE and PLACEMENT.

We've been learning about Value, and the others are pretty easy to understand. But what do I mean by EDGES? Let's take a minute to talk about this some more: Here is a close up from our reference photo:

Now. SQUINT YOUR EYES as you look at this.
Do you see the hard edge between the tree trunk and the background field? You can clearly SEE the edge. It is crisp and distinct.
Look at the foliage in the tree. Do you see how these edges are less distinct - the blend together more.
Look at the edges of the shadow of the trunk lying on the ground. Do you see how the edges of this shape are softer? Compare that edge to the bottom edge of the trunk just above it
Here is another example:

Look at the edges of the shapes in the background mountain. They are soft and blended. Do you see as you come forward in space, your edges become more distinct, but not as sharp as the edges in our foreground.

Now. That is what we see in our reference photo. 
Now we have to USE this reference and EDIT it to tell OUR STORY. 
Edges can be a powerful tool to:

• create emphasis in your focal point with crisp, distinct edges
• lead the eye through your painting with strategically placed crisp edges
• de-emphasize a less important area by softening the edges
• create a stronger sense of distance by softening edges even more than you see
• Create subtle gradations of value and color by softening the edges between the shapes
• describe the texture of an object- how hard or soft it is. Hard objects create crisper edges

So you can have a strong change in VALUE from one shape to the next. But you will get a different effect depending on whether that shape has a SOFT EDGE or a :HARD EDGE. 

Exercise #1
EDGES

Supplies: Mars Black and Titanium White Heavy Body Acrylic Paint.

                flat synthetic brush - about 1/2" wide

                water container, paper towels, palette

                watercolor paper                   

How do I do get a soft edge with Acrylics?
Using your watercolor paper, and your black and white paint. Let's practice some edges
The key to soft or blended edges in acrylics is understanding how much wet time you have before the paint dries. This is something you will get a feel for the more you paint. 
In general: 

• Work Quickly, in small areas
• For Larger areas - like a sky - Use larger brushes.
• Lay down a shape, adjust the edges right away.
• Be sure to work over at least one layer of paint - your block in
• Use a good quantity of paint
• Rinse your brush often 
• Use a light touch
• Adjust the wetness of your brush with a paper towel

So on your paper. Make some rectangles of different shapes like this. Let them dry. 
Now lets make some blended edges between these. There are three  ways:
One Value (or color)
1.  Lay down a shape of just one value - blend the edge RIGHT AWAY 
2.  Rinse your brush thoroughly. Blot on a paper towel.
3.  Use a scrubbing motion from the dry side into the wet side to soften the edge

 Two Values (or colors)
1.  Mix up the two values that you want to blend
2.  Paint in your two shapes. If the shapes are large, just do a smaller section at a time.
2.  QUICKLY rinse your brush and blot it to damp.
3. Use a sweeping motion to blend the still wet patches

Three Values (or colors) 
1. Mix up a shade between the two values you are trying to blend
2. Lay it down on the blending area
3. Rinse your brush thoroughly. Blot to damp. 
4. Use the scrubbing motion as before to blend each side of the new patch.

In all methods. Finish off by cleaning your brush thoroughly, blotting to damp, and very lightly sweeping across the area to blend. Wiping often on a towel to remove excess paint picked up.

Click here for a short video demo of blending edges
 
So now let's practice those different edges as we finish our full value block in of our painting
 When you are done, you should have something like this:

  You may notice that I've made further refinements to my 5 value block in:

• The field behind the tree is lighter to add more contrast to the dark tree form and draw more attention to my focal point.
• The shape of the tree and shadow have been developed and refined.
• The value shift between the field and wildflowers have been blended and minimized.

These are the kind of changes you make as you spend more time with your reference, and with the way the image is developing on the canvas. You are adding your own interpretation. What feels and looks right to you. Everyone see and paints differently. You can't help your own individual style coming through. It's not something you decide on or make up. It's just what happens after you paint for a while.

Click Here for Lesson #3- How do we translate this to COLOR?!

And please feel free to share your progress and comments!