VALUES.
The term “value,” as understood by artists, is used to express the comparative relation of tones to each other, irrespective of color. There may be many different colors before us all of the same value; also, there may be only one color used in a drawing, yet many different values are seen, which goes to show that we are to compare tones and not colors.
For example, in drawing or painting a landscape we look at the tone of the trees against the sky and observe which is the darker. If a stormy, heavy sky is seen behind light, feathery, green trees we see that the sky is darker in value.
If, on the contrary, trees with dark, rich foliage are observed to be strongly relieved against a bright, sunny sky, we perceive at once that the sky is lighter in value than the trees. In like manner we compare the rocks with the water, the fence with the road, and so on, according to the different objects to be regarded in the picture.
In drawing a head in charcoal or crayon it is well to establish at once the darkest value in the whole, selecting the deepest spot of shadow with which all the other tones of dark may be compared.
Look for instance, at the shadow over the eye or under the nose, which are generally very dark, and compare it with the shadow on the cheek, behind the ear, or under the chin. In the same way decide upon the highest light in the face. Say it is found upon the forehead or on the cheek bone. Be sure that it is the brightest spot in the face, and then compare all the other degrees of light with this.
By studying in this way, and observing the comparative variety of these tones, we arrive at correct values.
This is a most important quality in art and can not be overestimated, for upon a just appreciation of the values in a picture depends its truth. This also serves to illustrate the necessity of making studies directly from nature whenever possible.