Value in Art

The 7 Elements of DesignThe 7 Elements of Design

ValueValue LineLine ShapeShape FormForm ColorColor SpaceSpace TextureTexture

They are the basic They are the basic parts of any artwork.parts of any artwork.

They are rarely seen They are rarely seen by themselves.by themselves.

There are many ways There are many ways to use them.to use them.

An artist chooses how An artist chooses how to use the Elements of to use the Elements of Design, much like a Design, much like a chef chooses chef chooses ingredients to use in ingredients to use in his/her cooking!his/her cooking!

Let’s start with the Element of Let’s start with the Element of ValueValue

In the language of art, In the language of art, Value is how light or Value is how light or dark something is. dark something is.

In the example to the In the example to the right, there is a large right, there is a large Range of Values.Range of Values.– The are light values, The are light values,

medium values, and medium values, and dark values.dark values.

– This helps move our eye This helps move our eye around the picture.around the picture.

It would be boring just to It would be boring just to stare at one part of the stare at one part of the picture!picture!

Artwork by Jenny

Examples of ValueExamples of Value

Look how Value is Look how Value is used in these two used in these two works of art:works of art:– George de La Tour

– Louise Nevelson

Answer these Answer these questions:questions:1.1. Which picture has a Which picture has a

wider Range of Values wider Range of Values (selection of lights, (selection of lights, mediums, darks)?mediums, darks)?

2.2. Which picture uses Which picture uses Value to give Emphasis Value to give Emphasis (importance) in the (importance) in the picture?picture?

2. “The Newborn”1. Louise Nevelson, Sky Cathedral, 1958

Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New YorkImage from Albright Knox Organization via Artchive

Georges De La Tour, 1640’s, Musee des Beaux Arts, RennesFrom Image from Web Gallery of Art

De La Tour uses a De La Tour uses a Range of ValuesRange of Values and gives and gives EmphasisEmphasis to the newborn baby in the picture by to the newborn baby in the picture by putting the lightest Value there. Our eye is moved to putting the lightest Value there. Our eye is moved to the part in the picture which is most different from the part in the picture which is most different from the other parts of the picture. the other parts of the picture.

The eye is immediately drawn to the Value which is most different. In this example, it’s where the Value is the lightest. That is where the Emphasis is.

Now you’ve learned Now you’ve learned how Value can give how Value can give

Emphasis to a part in a Emphasis to a part in a picturepicture

andand produce Contrast produce ContrastThe Emphasis is on the white box!

Value can give Value can give the feeling of the feeling of formform

Look at the following Look at the following pictures by John pictures by John Singer SargentSinger Sargent

What else can the Element of Value do?

Which looks more 3-D?Which looks more 3-D?

1. Coloring Book rendering of John Singer Sargen’ts “Madame X,” from Enchanted Learning

2. John Singer Sargent, “Madame X” from John Singer Sargent Virtual Gallery

Some artists like to use Some artists like to use dramatic valuedramatic value

We call We call dramatic value dramatic value chiaroscurochiaroscuro

It sounds like “Chee-r-o-scure-o”It sounds like “Chee-r-o-scure-o”

Caravaggio is a famous Caravaggio is a famous artist who used chiaroscuroartist who used chiaroscuro

How is value used to create drama in this How is value used to create drama in this image?image?

How is How is chiaroscurchiaroscuro used to o used to

create create drama in drama in

this image this image by by

CaravaggioCaravaggio??

CONGRATULATIONS!!CONGRATULATIONS!!

You now know what Value is and how You now know what Value is and how it gives Form to an object.it gives Form to an object.

You have also seen how Value can You have also seen how Value can give Emphasis, or importance, to a give Emphasis, or importance, to a particular part in a picture.particular part in a picture.

We are going to create an We are going to create an artwork focusing on valueartwork focusing on value

Examine the next few images.Examine the next few images.

Be prepared to discuss how value is Be prepared to discuss how value is used in these pictures to show form used in these pictures to show form and emphasis. and emphasis.

Bones are Bones are dramatic.dramatic.

You will You will use value use value to create a to create a dramatic dramatic artwork artwork about about bones.bones.