Simple Value Plan

 

I just started teaching a 4 week
Modern Painting Class
and it feels good to be getting back to some of the basics.
Each week we explore one element of painting;
line, value, color, and shape
and how to manipulate them for stronger paintings.
To me a strong VALUE pattern is the foundation for successful paintings.

Doing numerous thumbnail value plans
of a subject can help you simplify your values
and design the best composition.
I like the impact of one on the lower right;
the high contrast that makes the white barn pop
so I used that one.

Moonlit Barn
20 x 20 oil

Today I quickly laid in the shapes for this using that plan as a quide.
(While it was wet, I broke up some of the edges
and will “clean them up” when it dries.

Work in progress!)

”Color gets all the credit;
Value does all the work! “