Class Notes: BETTER Value Sketches

A sketch is a sketch is a sketch . . . .
worthwhile or a waste of valuable time that I could be spending painting?
Well, it's like pointing the car in the right direction and just hoping you get where you want to go. Your sketch is the MAP: a way to master the view, instead of letting it master you.
Here are some simple tips for sronger value sketches:
1. Use a viewer to limit and "trap" the view so that you know exactly what will be included in the frame; both positive, as well as negative shapes. I use an empty cardboard slide holder. (remember slides?)

2. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
Start with a sketch (or Notan) - limit detail by squinting so you see less and can combine areas of detail into larger areas of value that are similar.

3. Stick with 3 values.
Remember that step-by-step process a few posts back?
The lights which are the white of the paper, the darkest darks which are as dark as you can make them with the pencil, and the middle tones in between. Simplifying the sketch to just 3 values will communicate your ideas more powerfully - and translate more easily to color.

4. Make value changes for a better composition.
Once the sketch is done, you have a map for yourself but it may become apparent that not every route is a good one. Think about rearranging value areas or connecting them to improve the composition or to better lead the eye through the painting.

Class Notes: The Value of a VALUE Sketch

In our ongoing discussion about VALUE. . .
I can't over state the importance of a sketch as a way to see
and FIGURE OUT value.
Creating small sketches is a good way to begin to develop your eye for value, BUT a conventional sketch like the one here on the right does NOT tell us either where the light is coming from or how it affects the objects it touches?


In the second sketch, I started a little differently.
You can see where I drew a light outline of the objects first, then used the pencil to tone, or fill in the shapes with a medium value grey - over all - leaving the white of the paper for the lightest shapes. It is a pretty simple process and if you cover areas that you want white,
just use an eraser to lift them.
At this point the sketch is very
2 dimensional and flat looking.










In this last step of the sketch,
I used the pencil to lay in the darkest darks over the medium value and voila - I have a quick 3 value sketch that shows where the light is coming from and suddenly my objects have dimension.
Not too painful right?

Remember: Understanding VALUE means knowing how to explain the LIGHT. The bottom sketch communicates where the light is coming from and what it does when it hits the objects.
More about seeing Values in Sketches, and some tips - later.