Importance of values in watercolors

 

There is no shortage of discussion on the topic of values and watercolours. Value can be defined as the lights, darks, and mid-tones in a painting. The importance of values to the success of a painting cannot be stressed enough. They are one of the most important elements in a successful painting.

I'm sure that you've seen some beginners’ paintings looking flat and lifeless. These newcomers don't realize the importance of value contrast in their paintings. This is an easy problem to overcome, once you know how. 

Values serve a variety of purposes in a painting:

• they indicate the direction of the light and shadows in the composition;
• they add dimension to the forms and shapes in the scene;
• they can lead the eye in a planned path throughout the painting;
• they emphasize and develop the center of interest or focal point;
• they create the illusion of distance and depth; and
• they help to establish a mood or emotion in the picture.

It is sometimes a struggle to get the correct values in watercolor paintings. Two ways can be adopted to create value change in watercolours.

• dilute the paint with water and making several puddles of color each of a different value.
•  layer color on top of color.

One of the reasons values is a struggle is that watercolour values are reduced when the paint dries. With some colours, there is a significant difference.

You learn only by doing. Someone who only reads cookbooks will never be a good cook. You actually have to cook - a lot!  Although there is much discussion about values, it’s of little value until it is put to practice and lots of it. We all have to start somewhere and good guidance is essential and can actually speed up the process of becoming a better painter! Like many good things in life, it is a tough road to make all the mistakes and that’s why learning from others speeds up the process.

 

Today, I had lots of practice with values in this salt and pepper shakers painting. Many layers had to be reapplied to achieve the darks I wanted to have.
 

http://www.danielleswatercolours.ca/misc-topics/

Danielle