A value map in art is essentially a preliminary plan or sketch that maps out the distribution of light and dark values within a composition.
Understanding Value in Art
Before diving into value maps, it's crucial to understand value. In art, value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color or tone. It's a fundamental element used to define form, create mood, and establish a sense of volume.
As the reference states, value drawing is about creating the illusion of depth on a 2-dimensional surface through use of light and dark values. By manipulating the contrast and range of values, artists can make objects appear three-dimensional and create realistic lighting effects.
What is a Value Map?
A value map is a simplified representation of your subject or composition, focusing only on the different levels of light and dark, ignoring color or fine details. It breaks down the scene into a limited number of value zones, often using a simplified value scale (e.g., light, medium, dark).
Think of it as an artist's blueprint for value placement. It helps organize the complex interplay of light and shadow into manageable areas before committing to a final drawing or painting.
Why Use a Value Map?
Using a value map offers several significant benefits for artists:
- Planning: It allows you to plan the strongest contrasts and the overall balance of light and dark before you start the detailed work.
- Composition: Helps analyze how value contributes to the composition and guides the viewer's eye.
- Creating Depth: Directly aids in creating the illusion of depth by planning where the darkest darks, lightest lights, and mid-tones will fall.
- Problem Solving: Identifies potential issues with value distribution early in the process.
- Simplification: Encourages you to see the subject in terms of broad areas of light and shadow, making the process less overwhelming.
How to Create a Simple Value Map
Creating a value map is usually a quick process, often done through small thumbnail sketches.
- Choose a Simplified Scale: Decide on the number of value steps you will use (e.g., 3, 5, or 7 values). A common simple scale is 3-value: Light, Medium, and Dark.
- Observe the Subject: Squinting often helps simplify the scene into these basic value masses.
- Sketch the Basic Shapes: Lightly draw the main shapes of your composition.
- Map the Values: Using your chosen value steps, shade in the different areas of your sketch according to their perceived value in the subject. For a 3-value map, you'd determine which areas are lightest, which are medium-toned, and which are darkest.
Here's a simple example of a 3-value scale often used:
| Value Level | Description | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lightest | Highlights, direct light areas |
| 2 | Medium | Mid-tones, general surfaces |
| 3 | Darkest | Shadows, areas receiving little light |
Using this, you would shade areas of your thumbnail sketch with different levels of pencil pressure or shading technique corresponding to these three values.
Value Maps in Practice
Value maps are valuable tools across various art media, including:
- Drawing: Helps structure graphite, charcoal, or ink work.
- Painting: Assists in planning underpaintings and color value relationships.
- Printmaking: Crucial for planning areas that will hold ink and create contrast.
By learning to see and plan values through a value map, artists can more effectively harness the power of light and shadow to create compelling and realistic artwork.
