Elements of Art: Value | KQED Arts

Summary

This script delves into the concept of 'value' in art, highlighting its significance in creating visual depth and contrast. Value, derived from the Greek words for 'light drawing,' refers to the lightness or darkness of hues. It's crucial for artists to master, as it influences the perception of light and texture in their work. The script contrasts low and high-contrast images, demonstrating how varying tonal values can dramatically alter an artwork's impact. It encourages viewers to appreciate the artistry in value rendering and to experiment with different mediums to enhance their own creations.

Takeaways

• 📸 The term 'photography' originates from Greek words meaning 'light drawing', emphasizing the role of light in creating images.
• 🎨 Photography and art often involve 'drawing with light' to define objects and create tonal and color values.
• 🖌️ Value is a key element of art, representing the lightness or darkness of a color or hue, and is crucial for creating visual depth.
• ⚪️ A value scale ranges from pure white to absolute black, with various shades of gray in between, illustrating the concept of light and dark.
• 🌈 Artists can create different values by adjusting the lightness or darkness of hues, either by adding white or black.
• 🖼️ Low-contrast images have many tonal values between black and white, while high-contrast images have fewer, creating a stark visual difference.
• 👀 The texture of an object's surface can influence how value is perceived, affecting the contrast between light and dark areas.
• 📷 In photography, the texture of subjects, like the veins in lettuce leaves or the skin of bananas, can significantly impact the contrast and value.
• ✏️ The medium used in art, such as charcoal or watercolor, affects the darkness of blacks and the smoothness of transitions between light and dark.
• 👩‍🎨 When creating art, practicing with different mediums and hues to render value scales can enhance the uniqueness and visual appeal of artwork.

Q & A

What is the origin of the word 'photography'?

The word 'photography' comes from two Greek words that translate to 'light drawing'.

How does light play a role in photography and art?

Light defines objects and enables us to see things. Artists create the illusion of light by producing a wide range of tonal and color values.

What are the seven elements of art mentioned in the script?

The seven elements of art are line, shape, form, texture, color, space, and value.

What is value in the context of art and how is it visualized?

Value refers to how light or dark a given color or hue is. It is visualized as a scale or a gradient, ranging from pure white to absolute black with various gray tones in between.

How are different values created in art?

Different values are created by lightening the hue, such as adding white, or darkening it with black.

What is the difference between low contrast and high contrast in art?

A low-contrast artwork has many tones between black and white, while a high-contrast image has very few tonal values between black and white.

How does the texture of an object's surface affect the perception of value?

The texture of an object's surface can create areas of dramatic contrast between light and dark, affecting how we perceive value.

What is an example of how texture affects value in photography given in the script?

In Brett Weston's photograph of lettuce, the veins in the leaves create areas of dramatic contrast between light and dark, affecting the perception of value.

How do the different ways artists create lines and implied textures affect the perception of value?

Heavy and dark blacks, as well as the smoothness of transitions from dark to light, can affect how we perceive value in artworks.

What advice does the script give for observing and creating value in art?

When observing art, notice how the artist renders value. When creating your own artwork, practice creating value scales with various mediums and hues.

What is the significance of practicing with different mediums and hues in creating value scales?

Practicing with different mediums and hues in creating value scales helps artists to understand and control the tonal range in their artwork, allowing their work to shine in its own unique way.