An intro to shading light and shadow with a template of common value zones to make it easier to structure your shading.

In this critique, I review your Value Composition Thumbnails project submissions and give advice on how they can be improved. We'll discuss the importance of simplifying your work by concentrating on big value groups and using thumbnails to experiment with different ideas quickly. You'll discover techniques for maintaining clarity by managing texture and keeping your shading clean. We'll also explore how to balance proportions with creativity, embrace narratives in your compositions, and see examples of effective value compositions to inspire your own work.

In this premium demo, we explore creating composition thumbnails using markers to focus on values. Using a red-gray set of markers, we'll work through a piece featuring a sorcerer, exploring varying background darkness, adjusting contrasts, simplifying shapes to enhance the silhouette, and light sources.

In this 3rd demo, we dive into creating value composition thumbnails for Level 2 with a more complex concept. You'll learn how to use markers and pencils to experiment with different value arrangements, affecting how the subject appears—making figures seem smaller and more vulnerable or larger. We explore simplifying complex shapes, incorporating elements like cast shadows, and adjusting backgrounds to influence the mood. The lesson guides you through selecting a composition, planning with five distinct values, and developing a larger, detailed drawing that enhances focus on key elements like the face and hands.

2nd demo exploring value compositions with thumbnails, this time using gray markers.

I've been looking through my old artwork and found a box full of personal projects. Reflecting on these pieces, I realize how important they were in my journey, and it's made me want to create more and keep exploring new methods.

Let me show you how I approach value composition studies. I start with a basic sketch that resembles the photo to warm up. Then I experiment by adjusting values, like changing the darkness of the shirt or lightening the hair, to see how it affects the composition. I also play with the background and cropping, trying different shapes and contrasts to frame the subject. It's all about testing different ideas, simplifying shapes, and seeing what works best for the piece.