This week’s lecture provided an understanding of tone/value; essential in creating good artwork and animation, as without these, work can appear flat and lifeless.
Often used interchangeably, and also referred to as tonal value, tone/value simply refers to the degree of lightness or darkness of an area. More important than colour (Cearley, 2017), if used properly, tone/value has the ability to increase the believability of a drawing by creating a sense of light, depth, and space and, as varying degrees of value are the only thing we see to show a change of form, add mass and contour to an object or character.
Source: Pinterest, n.d.
When drawing, value scale, with gradations decreasing in increments from black to white, or a chosen value range can also be used to convey a certain mood or setting such as those in the images below.
Source: juliannakunstler.com, n.d.
Dark tones can be used to create a sense of drama or darkness, whereas lighter tones draw attention to focal points, especially when contrasted against a dark background.
Source: artstation.com, 2019
Atmospheric perspective too can be used to relay the illusion of depth in exterior scenes, even as you can see from below, when using the most basic shapes and forms. Here, objects have more contrast and clarity in the foreground, but diminish in size and detail, and their values lighten as they fade further into the distance, to almost merge with the background.
Source: dribbble.com. (n.d.)
Finally, simple, high contrast two-tone values showing just a silhouette and negative space, and cross-hatching to show form change are also other ways of achieving the same effect.
Source: artstation.com (n.d.)
Source: vectorstock.com
Below are images of some props and quick, thumbnail sketches I created for my ‘world’ during the lecture… not the best I know, but given I haven’t sketched since my GCSE Art course ended, and am still finding my feet, with practice and by incorporating the fundamentals learned today, I hope to grow in confidence and improve. Going forward, having a value scale to hand when sketching, or drawing digitally will also be helpful.
Workshop: Skull Cup
Workshop: Pumpkin Cloche and Bowl
Workshop: Halloween Bar Thumbnail Sketches
References:
artstation.com (2019). Concept Art, Value, Landscape: Francisca Momberg. [online]. [Accessed: 15 October 2023].
Available at: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/3o0wlD
artstation.com (n.d.) Composition Sketches, Sung Choi. [online]. [Accessed: 15 October 2023].
Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/468374430010782847/
Cearley, C. (2017). Art Fundamentals: Values – Clint Cearley. [online]. [Accessed: 15 October 2023].
Available at: https://youtu.be/ax130yILbw0
dribbble.com. (n.d.). Dribbble – Valley-day.png by Pixel True. [online]. [Accessed: 15 October 2023].
Available at: https://dribbble.com/shots/16050108-Valley-day-night-sunset-Scenic-Illustrations/attachments/7895061?mode=media
juliannakunstler.com. (n.d.). Value scales. [online]. [Accessed 15 October 2023].
Available at: https://juliannakunstler.com/vislit_value.html
Pinterest. (n.d.). Single Line Drawing | Geometric shapes art, Geometric shapes drawing, Geometric drawing. [online]. [Accessed 15 October 2023]
Available at: https://www.pinterest.es/pin/511088257715282796/
VectorStock. (n.d.). Mountains landscape sketch river flow vector image on VectorStock. [online]. [Accessed: 15 October 2023].
Available at: https://www.vectorstock.com/royalty-free-vector/mountains-landscape-sketch-river-flow-vector-20804530