Saturday's workshop was simultaneously challenging and fun!
Each student selected a still life object then painted a value study of it.
Getting the values correctly took a lot of squinting! Our eyelashes
acted like filters and eliminated distracting detail. Squinting allowed
us to view large areas of similar value and mass those areas into
simple shapes.
Along with perceiving the value correctly, painting a black and white
study first allowed the artists time to strengthen their compositions and
adjust shapes without introducing the added complexity of color.
Learning how to match the colors found in each still life
subject required focus. In order to replicate that color onto
their canvas the students had to ask questions like "Do
I need to make my color lighter or darker?"
After the value of the color had been adjusted the color
temperature was addressed by asking, "Does this color
need to be warmer or cooler?"
By adding red, yellow or blue into the mix the students
altered the color temperature making it warmer or cooler.
Each student took their time and produced beautiful work!
After working hard, laughing a lot and enjoying each other's
company we discovered that value is more important than color.
