THE ART ELEMENT OF VALUE

USING BLENDING/GRAPHITE PENCIL

Value is an ELEMENT of ART that

describes the lightness and darkness of

tones (grays) and colors.

Value

• Is important to artists

because it helps them

to identify highlights

and shadows and draw

more realistically.

• Value video

Shading Techniques (ways to achieve

values in your work)

•Blending- making

values blend

smoothly and

gradually together.

GRAPHITE PENCILS

H pencils have harder lead and are used to

make lighter values.

B pencils have softer lead and are used to

make darker values.

What happens when you place a light on

a sphere:

Shading a Sphere:

5 Areas of Value When Shading Objects

• Highlight: direct light on an object

• Midtones: the gradual shift of light to medium value as

the light moves around the form

• Shadow: the shadow created on the back of the form

where the light doesn’t reach

• Cast Shadow: the shadow created by the object blocking

the light.

• Reflected Light: light area created when the light

bounces off the surface back on to the object.

A good

graphite

drawing should

have at least 8

values in it.

Value Scale

YOUR ASSIGNMENT•You will complete the value worksheet with a graphite pencil.

Proper technique will be demonstrated.

•You will complete TWO value scales, one with individual values

and one showing the gradual transition from dark to light. Focus

on slowing your pencil stroke, keeping an EVEN pressure, and

AVOID lines and stripes in your blending.