By Andrea Melione
This article originally appeared in ArtTrader Magazine, Winter 2010 Issue 10
Value and contrast are probably the two most important concepts in successful artwork. They can be applied to any 2D media, and (after color) are the most noticeable aspects of your work. Value is simply the amount of light or darkness; a value scale is a range of values from lightest white to darkest black. Contrast is commonly created when two different values are placed near one another; the most striking contrast is black and white.
 Colored pencils with no contrast |
Be aware of the value ranges in your work! Try to use both darks and lights to create contrast and interest. |  Watercolor with no contrast |
Many beginners in art do not take advantage of the powers of value and contrast, resulting in work that may appear washed out or lacking in depth or volume. Watercolors and colored pencils are good examples of this. Watercolor when dry is much lighter than watercolor when wet; many beginners mix far too much water into their pigment, or fail to apply additional layers of color. In addition, many students do not vary the water/pigment ratio throughout their work resulting in a piece where all of the colors are the same value, thus creating no contrast.
Colored pencils are also prone to this kind of washed out rendering. In many cases colored pencils are either applied too lightly or these light applications are not layered. Again the student will create an entire work applying the same amount of pressure for each color, resulting in little contrast. Both of the above cards are lovely, but they could be enhanced by greater contrast and range of value.
Here are examples of value and contrast used effectively:
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In this watercolor forest sprite card you can see a clear range of darks, mid tones and highlights. Compare the black and white version with the color version: it is easier to identify the range of value in the black and white version. You can either render your work into grayscale on the computer, or look at your work in-progress through red acetate/plastic. A wider variety of value (including very dark darks and very light lights) will increase the depth and interest of your work.
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Contrast can be created not just through value, but also through color. Take a look at this colored pencil blueberry fairy. The black and white version has very few dark areas when compared the other example (only grays and whites), but when seen in color, the contrast between purple, blue and red is apparent. This kind of contrast is created though high saturation (or boldness) of color.
To train your eye for identifying values, try drawing a value scale. You can use graphite pencils, using a range of leads from hard to soft; paint; or ink, using cross hatching and stippling.Here is a good value scale to try and copy with the medium of your choice:
Value Scale
Once you have the composition and color scheme decided for your work, think about how you will use value and contrast. Value can help you visually communicate distance; objects far away will appear lighter than objects that are closer. Contrast can help separate elements in your work from one another and aid in guiding the eye through the composition. When you see a piece of art that really grabs your attention, try to understand how that artist used value and contrast in their art; are there any ways you can adopt this use in your own art? Ultimately, understanding value and contrast will help you create more dynamic artwork.
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