Studio Cascadia

Elements of Art: Value

Value is the lightness or darkness of a color, and it adds dimension in a piece. Value is also a concept in color, as mentioned above. Artists can create value in line drawings through different shading techniques which use different types of line. In painting, value in color is created by adding whites and blacks to a color to create different values and shades.

Shading techniques create value in drawings and add dimension and perspective. These techniques include hatching, cross hatching, stippling, scumbling, stippling, and blending.

Value in Art at Cascadia

Bertha Lum (1869-1954)
Mother West Wind, 1918
Color blockprint
Collection of Ken Nelson and Jessica Greenway

This blockprint uses different values or shades of blue. The bottom starts with a darker blue and gradually fades to a lighter blue at the top. The use of value creates dimension in this primarily monochromatic piece.

Art Project: Exploring Value through Crayon Rubbing

This unique rubbing project lends itself to many different images and styles. This project is an example of the design principle of value.