Value: An Exercise in Monochromaticism
Intermediate | Rating: 9.44 Votes: 9
Views: 6632 | By: angus147258  |
| Category: Painting Subcategory: Miscellaneous | Date: 2009-03-10 22:54:37 |
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Intro
After dwelling within the sick depths of my mind as a dark-surrealist illustrator for several years, I decided today to experience a breath of stale nostalgia and I found myself browsing the website that occupied most of time as a pre-teen: coolminiornot. Upon lurking in the galleries I was impressed as well as slightly confused; as thorough as most of the figurine artists' knowledge of color-theory is, most seem to lack much of an understanding of value-theory. Value is the lightness and darkness of an image and despite how stunning color can be, it amounts to most of the dynamics and contrast within an image. Color is just there to accentuate an image and add further complexity once the depth and contrast is established previous by the value. This does not only regard how an object is lit (as in the "NMM" style), but also the differences in the value of different elements of an image.
The progression of a figurine artist is interestingly backwards to the common progression of a 2-dimensional artist. A figurine artists progression normally is executed as follows:
Color - Rendering - Value (- Line - Composition - Proportion)
That is how I personally learned how to paint (through miniatures) and though I am well established in my rendering, color, and value skills, I have been required to now backtrack and re-learn line, composition, and proportion in order to improve my artwork.
A 2D artist's progression is most commonly:
Line - Proportion - Composition - Value - Color - Rendering
Therefore, a figure artist's learning style is strangely irregular. There is almost never a need for knowledge of composition or line other than in complex freehand banners or details and there is almost always (other than a minority of realistic sculptors) a lack of need for proportion.
I propose, in order to better both future artist ventures and the quality of miniature artwork, to learn the steps similarly to a 2D artist. Like a language, art builds upon itself from each former skill and lesson. In order to better what is 'relevant' towards figurine art, it would be recommended to master essential skills prior such as value.
Value Basics
There are five basic values (from lightest to darkest): the highlight, middle light, reflected light, middle shadow, and the core shadow. The highlight is the brightest point and depending on the object can be either very small or very broad. The lower the gradation but the brighter the highlight is, the more reflective an object will appear. The core shadow is always directly where the shadow turns from darkness into the reflected light, it is the darkest point of an object. The reflected light is where the light bounces off of nearby objects. The middle values are transitions from the darkest to the lightest points on the object.
The value of an object is determined by it's material and it's proximity to the lightsource. For instance, chrome is more reflective than plastic so it will have a brigher value. Also, things closer to the lightsource will be brighter than things farther away from it. The only way to truely learn value is through observation of the real world (by still lives or through other means) and practice.
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kailore
11 May 09 |  |
Rating: 10
Hi Jake, just studying this now too as both a 2D and 3D artist. Very nicely put together and timly too, thanks a bunch.
Artwork on my site, Scale120.com
Lin.K
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Bexley
23 March 09 |  |
Rating: 8
Great article, but I think the first page could use a little less snark. Generally not a good idea to begin an article by belittling your audience.
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Caracole
20 March 09 |  |
Rating: 10
Really simple, clear article. Thanks.
There is actually a french painter, Thomas David, who made a monochrome version of the GW Emperor's Champion.
Here it is : http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6319/93ft3.jpg
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Ulrikk
16 March 09 |  |
Rating: 9
This is a really nice and interesting piece. Thanks for sharing.
It would be really great if you did some more steps in between the first and the last image. How about doing another article where you only focus on one part of his anatomy, eg. the head and top torso? If we could see more steps and having you talk us through it it could be very, very useful for us all.
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mickc22
13 March 09 |  |
Rating: 9
Nicely put together Jake, thanks
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Amazon warrior
13 March 09 |  |
Rating: 10
That's a neat article. I may have choose me a figure for some monotine love! 
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alextheartist
13 March 09 |  |
Rating: 10
Wow, that puts it really simply, without loads of complicated theory..
10/10
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Mr Scream
12 March 09 |  |
Rating: 10
I have always wanted to try greyscale painting or monochrome work but never seem to have the chance. However if I do this will be an invaluable resource. Interesting subject and clear article with good pics.
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