Working on values

[Raindrop]

Thanks to Arlene, I realized that my biggest problem in drawing, right now, was to get values right. I'm trying to fix that... I haven't bought the red cellophan yet, but I will!

The first drawing is copied from a blurry photograph ; that way, I couldn't rely on lines.
The second one is a self-portrait in a mirror ; the proportions are off (the eyes mostly), but I was not focusing on that (it's hard to focus on more than one thing at the moment, LOL!)

When drawing I felt that I was overdoing it ; in fact, it looks much lighter, less contrasty again after I've left it for a couple of hours. Is it better than before?

[bjs0704]

Good job! It seems that "values" are one of the more commom problems.

I really like the portrait.

Barb Solomon :)

[SweetBabyJ]

The little girl and goose show a lot more value changes- although most of that is because you were capturing hue changes, too. The portrait is better, but still hesitant on values- look at where your darkest dark is- that right eyesocket- now look in the mirror again. What about around the nostrils? Is that area as dark as the eyesocket? The jaw? What about the chin? If those areas are not as dark, how much *less* dark are they- and can I have the number of your dermatologist?

It's much more difficult for me to see values in "real life" as my eye sees volume and shape, and color, but I've learned to either squint, or take a pic and turn it to grayscale so I can check the values. It's still something I have to concentrate on, but it gets easier everytime to *see* it the first time.

Great practice work, though; and you might want to try drawing your own hand- there are so many shadows and shape changes there and it holds still if you tell it to!

[bjs0704]

I used to have a teacher who always reminded us to check that on each thing that we drew that we had at least 3 different values. If there was a color change, then there would be even more.

On the portrait, check you construction and anatomy in drawing the nose. The nostrils seem a bit high.

Still, I do think that you did a good job.

Barb Solomon

[Raindrop]

Thank you, Barb and SweetBaby.
About the proportions : yes, they are off, I know! I'm a fidget, I can't stay still. I'm a terrible model. I know that, and I knew before I started that my proportions would be off - but I was working on values, so I didn't really care, LOL!

I'll try to draw my hand, that's a good idea (I just need to find a rope to attach it first ;) :) ). I now see the point of doing "rulers" with the different tones - which I didn't understand before. You know, when you start with white on the left handside and end up with black on the right handside? I'm going to do that, too.
Barb, the three different values (and then some more...) is a good hint ; I'll try to remember that.

The other problem I have right now is that I don't usually have a proper lighting to work with. It's dim and orangey here ; so all in all I can't see really well what I'm doing. :( (No, my dermatologist is not guilty for that :D ! )

[bjs0704]

What kind of lighting are you using?

It is amazing how much difference the right sort of lighting can make.

Barb Solomon

[arlene]

these are looking good. I agree there should be even more values in the face....a good place to start is doing a value chart from one to nine...

1 being white and 9 being black, 5 would be the middle range between the two...then use that as your guide when drawing.

also a great project to try is to take an egg (white) stick it on a white cloth..shine a light at an angle to it and draw it...then if you're really into it move the light to backlight it, then front light it and draw two more.

[bjs0704]

I remember that one. It's a good one.

I used to set up an adjustable desk lamp, so that I could play with the angle of light on whatever I drew. Then, I would draw my egg or whatever else two or three times with the light in different positions.

Another great thing to try drawing is a white cloth table napkin or a simple white man's hankerchief.

Barb Solomon

[Raindrop]

:clap: Great advices! Thank you!!! I like the egg idea, I'll have some trouble finding a white one, though - they all have a pinky-peach colour here. Maybe if I cover the egg with a white handkerchief... ;) :D I'll do all of the exercises, anyway.

My lighting (in the living-room) is crap, period. I have a better one in my room (a desk lamp), but most of the times I want to draw in the living-room so as not to be cut off from my family. :( Next week I'll be able to draw outside again - I find it to be the best lighting - and in a couple of months I will have my own flat, so I will choose my own lamps and such. :)

[SweetBabyJ]

I've been buying these lightbulbs called "Daylights" put out by Sylvania. They aren't as "true" as the pricey full-spectrum art lightbulbs, but they are much clearer toned than regular household bulbs- and about the same price. At Home Depot, for $15.00, I picked up a three-spot standing floor lamp, so I can put light pretty much where I want it now. All in all, not a bad solution for very little money.

The white-on-white exercise is very good- find your darkest dark (usually up against the shadowed side of the egg) and mark it, and your lightest light (usually right where the light hits the egg the strongest) and mark it, then make sure you keep checking back and forth between these two tones- no area should be darker than your pre-marked darkest spot, nor lighter than your pre-marked highlight.

The hand exercise is good because it teaches you to see "tone" in colours- trust me- throw hue into the mix and tone can easily be left behind. Plus, hands are difficult to master, structurally, so it's good practice all the way 'round.

Once you get a good idea of tone, you can move onto methods: Outline, blocking, mass, gestural, geometric... Isn't learning fun?!?

[arlene]

For those who are interested, here are projects I've started for the cp folks...all could be adapted for whatever your preferred medium is, and all are based on slowly moving you towards learning the basics.


SHOW US YOUR OVA Project #1 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/Projects/browse_details.php?proj_id=144)
Glass Project #2 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=32689)
Still Life with Glass or Reflections Project #3 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44802)
FND Still Life Project #4 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45759)
Learning Values #5 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=101354&highlight=project)
Red, Yellow and Blue Project #6 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=138120)
Copy a Master's Painting #7 (http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=151357&perpage=30&pagenumber=1)

[Raindrop]

Arlene, you're evil! :evil:
I'm glad I have posted this thread, as everybody is giving great advices. :clap: :clap: :clap:
I didn't know I could buy daylight lightbulbs, I will have to check on that.

[DanaT]

You've gotten a lot of great suggestions here. I'd just like to add a thought. :)

The egg exercise that arlene suggested is a great practice for portraits. Classical artists have often used an egg concept to describe the form of the face.

Practicing the value changes on simple forms like eggs, spheres, cones, and cylinders can help you see these simple forms in more complex objects such as heads and then you can simplify the values in normal objects making the illusion of 3 dimensional reality much more effective.

Values are something I'm learning too and what my teachers are consistently saying is simplify, simplify, simplify.