Value as an Element of Art. Part 1. What is value?

Summary

This video script delves into the concept of value in art, focusing on how light and darkness create depth and dimension. It explains that the amount of light reflected by a surface determines its value, which is influenced by factors like the light source's brightness and position, the surface's color and texture, and the angle at which it faces the light. The script also discusses how reflected light and background values affect perception. It introduces the Denman Rose nine-step value scale, illustrating how values transition from white to black, and emphasizes the importance of value in making artwork appear three-dimensional.

Takeaways

• 🔆 Value in art refers to the lightness and darkness in an artwork, determined by the amount of light reflected from a surface.
• 💡 The light source's brightness and position significantly affect the value of objects, influencing how we perceive them as light or dark.
• 🌑 Black represents the absence of light, while white signifies the maximum reflection, with a range of values in between.
• 🎨 The angle at which a surface faces the light source changes its value, allowing us to distinguish different sides of an object.
• 🌈 Reflected light from the environment, including the ground and walls, affects the value of objects, especially when they are in close proximity.
• 🖼️ Background value can make the same object appear lighter or darker, depending on the contrast with its surroundings.
• 🌟 The texture and reflective properties of a surface play a role in how it reflects light, thus impacting its perceived value.
• 📏 A value scale, such as the Denman Rose nine-step scale, helps artists measure and describe the range of values from black to white.
• 🎨 Value creates depth and a three-dimensional appearance in artwork by varying the lightness and darkness within an object and its background.
• 📚 Understanding value is crucial for artists to create realistic and depthful artwork, as it influences the perception of space and form.

Q & A

What is value in the context of art?

Value refers to the lightness and darkness in an art piece, which is determined by the amount of light reflected from a surface.

How does the light source affect the value of an object?

The brightness, position, and distance of the light source can affect how much light is reflected from a surface, thus influencing its value.

Why do two surfaces of the same object not have the same value if they face the light source at different angles?

The angle at which a surface faces the light source changes how much light it reflects, thus altering its value.

How does the environment affect the value of an object?

Objects close to each other share reflected light, and the darkness or lightness of surrounding objects, as well as their proximity and reflectivity, affect each object's value.

What is the role of background value in art?

Background value can make the same object appear lighter or darker depending on the contrast with the background, influencing the perception of depth and dimension.

How does the texture and reflective properties of a surface impact its value?

Different surfaces reflect light uniquely due to their texture and reflective properties, which in turn affects the perceived value.

What are the factors that affect the value of a surface?

Factors affecting a surface's value include the brightness of the light source, the surface's position relative to the light, the surface's value and color properties, the angle at which it faces the light, reflected light from the environment, background values, and the nature of the light source.

How does value create depth within an artwork?

Value creates depth by generating a range of tones within an object and its background, making objects appear three-dimensional and altering their perceived distance.

What is a value scale and why is it used?

A value scale is a method of describing how values change between black and white. It is used to measure and describe the differences in light and dark in an artwork.

What is the Denman Rose nine-step value scale?

The Denman Rose nine-step value scale is a well-known system for describing value changes, starting from white highlight to black, with terms like light low light, mid value, high dark, dark low dark, and black.

How does the amount of light reflected by a surface determine its value?

The amount of light a surface reflects determines its value, with surfaces reflecting more light appearing lighter and those reflecting less or no light appearing darker.