Values

I was feeling nervous and unsure. I didn't want to start. All my usual supports were gone: I …

Continue Reading about How You Know You’re Improving (and Not Just Spinning Your Wheels)

On November 3rd, 1933 the Nazi party, recently come to power, demanded that all professors begin …

Continue Reading about How a Little Known Experiment with Chickens Can Help Artists Master Values

If you’ve been painting for any length of time, you know that it’s extremely difficult to judge …

Continue Reading about Values: Why Context is So Important

Have you ever tried to paint a shadow cast on a black surface? Because you can’t do it. Well, you …

Continue Reading about Why You Can’t Paint a Black Shadow (But How to Make it Look Like You Did)

In the blue corner we have Rembrandt van Rijn. The very archetype of the Old Master, storyteller …

Continue Reading about Rembrandt Vs Turner: Who was right about values?

You'll often hear accomplished painters talking about the importance of values. The reason is …

Continue Reading about Why values are so hard – and how to start getting them more right

Having had quite enough of cubes and spheres after the last ten studies I dragged out my old coffee …

Continue Reading about Coffee Pot and Lemon – Munsell value Studies Part Six

Now the starters are out of the way, it's time for the main course. The original plan with these …

Continue Reading about Munsell value studies – cubes and spheres in form light

Having been blessed with a series of overcast days last week (which means no direct sunlight coming …

Continue Reading about Munsell Value Studies – Part Four

I'm continuing with my exploration of values using the Munsell colour system, and I'm finding it to …

Continue Reading about More Munsell Value Studies