Grayscale and Planar Values

As light hits a plane it creates a value. This is the relative degree of light or shadow on the form. Value changes as a plane is in less or more direct influence of the light source. So, a plane that is turned at a 45 degree angle to the light source receives less light than one that is at a 90 degree angle and, consequently, is lighter because it receives more direct light.

Value changes often occur gradually. These changes occur on any object. Even if we are looking at a white object, it will have a number of subtle value changes and would be drawn with only a small amount of pure white. This would occur only at the points most directly hit by the light.

Hint: The background color and any plane adjacent to the object being drawn, will influence the value of the form being rendered. It is important to consider the background value with the object being drawn because it will directly influence decisions in the drawing.

SHADOWS

There are a few simple rules to remember when painting shadows. The relationship of dark to light will be the same in shadow as in light. The tonal difference between two top squares (in full light) is the same as the tonal difference between two bottom squares (in shadow) The relationship does not change.

Color, texture and detail become lost in shadow. Color saturation or intensity is reduced in shadow.

Color will be most intense in the area of halftone (not in shadow and not under full intense light.) Under intense light color will be washed out. In shadow color will be dulled with its complement.

Shadows loose intensity and definition as the distance from the source increases.

Keep shadows transparent - avoid solid black shapes. A small amount of pure Ultramarine or Alizarin can put life into a dark flat shadow.

Sources:  John Lovett and Studio Chalkboard

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