When mixing colors for skies we concern ourselves with the three attributes of color: value, temperature and chroma. As we know from Carlson’s Theory of Angles, the sky will generally be the lightest value in the landscape–a range of values actually. The value of the sky grades from lightest at the horizon to darkest at […]
Let's Talk Edges
Let’s talk edges! Edges don’t neatly fit into the usual categories of painting instruction- drawing, value, composition, color, technique. They are about all those things and much more! Edges are the place that all you know about drawing, value, color, composition and technique come together! First, what’s an edge? Quite simply, an edge is where […]
Sky Values- The Key to Big Atmospheric Skies!
One of the most important ingredients for painting big atmospheric skies is getting the values right. We know that generally speaking the sky will have the lightest values in the landscape because it is the source of light (think Carlson’s Theory of Angles- if you don’t know about that you should!). The value of a […]
Four Value Studies and Notan
Notan is a Japanese word for light-dark, and consists of a two value arrangement of shapes. It can be used to define and simplify shape and value patterns. Notan (two values) and four value designs are not based on how we actually see the world; they are constructs that we can use to see and […]
Learn to Key Your Landscape
Landscape painters need to have a good understanding of the importance of value in successfully depicting the landscape on a two dimensional surface. In order to have our painting ‘read’, that is to show the planes of the landscape as well as its depth, atmosphere and scale, proper values are essential. As we’ve previously written, […]
Five Tips For Getting Values Right
Understanding the concept of values and learning to mix values accurately are perhaps the most challenging aspects of learning to paint landscapes. Here are five tips that will help you master your values! Think planes. When looking at the landscape, don’t try to ascertain the value of individual objects first. Instead, think in planes–sky, ground, […]